September  1999  to Mr  Sven  Burmester, U N F P A Representative  and Chair    of   the   UN Theme   Group   on HIV/AIDS: "The Gover nment has fully   realized   the present  HIV/AIDS situation  in  Guangxi and  its  harmfulness to the social development.  With the workshop as the beginning,  we  will creatively  carry  out the  AIDS  strategic planning  process, push   forward   the HIV/AIDS prevention and  control  work  in Guangxi, and achieve  the  goal  of controlling the epidemic and safeguarding     the people's health." What is Strategic Planning for HIV/AIDS in China? • It is a tool, a process, a methodology • It comprises Situation Analysis, Response Analysis, Definition of Priority Areas for Action, Resource Mobilization • It is a joint effort between UN and GOC, between UNAIDS, cosponsors and international partners • But it is owned locally • A pilot project was carried out in Guangxi, followed by Shanxi, Jilin, Hainan, and Guizhou before end 2000. Visit  to  the  "Red  Light  District"  in  Puzhai, Guangxi.  Representatives  of UNAIDS,  Ford Foundation, UNDP, AUSAID, and UNFPA. Strategic Planning For Aids Prevention The first UN team and Ministry of Health joint mission on HIV/AIDS in Guangxi -by Dr. Emile Fox, UNAIDS Guangxi  is  the  third Chinese  province  to have  witnessed  an explosive HIV epidemic  among  its resident  intravenous drug     users,     the majority  of  which are  injecting.  HIV epidemics  have  first been  documented among  drug  users in  Pingxiang  (20% positivity) and Dongxing   on   the Vietnamese  border, in Baise (77% positivity)   on   the border with Yunnan, and  in  increasing numbers  of  other sites. Most alarmingly, HIV positivity  increased at sex workers sentinel    sites    in Guangxi from 0% in 1997 to 5% in 1998 and  6.3%  in  1999. Additional HIV infections have been  found  among non-injecting  STD patients in places as varied as Baise and Liuzhou, making the risk of an impending heterosexual   HIV epidemic in Guangxi very real indeed. Dr  Wu  Heng,  Chair of the Guangxi AIDS Leading  Group  and Vice-Governor    of Guangxi Zhuang A  u  t  o  n  o  m  o  u  s Region,  wrote  in  his letter of 20 The Chinese mythical animal "Qilin", a symbol of good governance August 2001 Volume 1, Issue 1 Partners for Development UN NEW CHINA UNAIDS 1 Strategic Planning for Aids Prevention, The first UN team mission on HIV/AIDS in Guangxi UNIFEM 2 The "White Ribbon" Campaign: Ending Violence Against Women UNICEF 3, 4 Girls Education in Xinjiang ILO 4, 5 ILO's Work in China UNDP 6 Combating Desertification in China, Excerpts from UNDP Resident Representative, Ms. Leitner's Remarks 7, 8 Upcoming Events, New Projects, Publications, Website info Inside this Issue UN  News  is published by the UN Resident Coordinator's Office in association with the United Nations agencies in China.   The   newsletter   is edited     and     designed     by Caroline Nath, UNDP China Public  Affairs  Officer,  and published by Hi-target Computer Design company. UN News is published to keep staff, donors, Government counterparts,  NGO's,  the media, and public informed about the activities of the United Nations and the issues with which the UN works in China. All  articles  printed in UN News reflect the opinions of the   authors   and   are   not necessarily    those    of    UN management.  All  material  may be    fr eely     reproduced     if acknowledgement is provided.