UNAIDS China Launches 30-Year Commemorative Publication

Beijing, 9 December 2025 — As part of global commemorations for World AIDS Day 2025, held under the theme “Overcoming Disruption, Transforming the AIDS Response”, the United Nations in China and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) convened partners, former leaders, government counterparts, and community representatives for the launch of a landmark publication: Catalyst, Convenor and Connector for Change: UNAIDS Role in Supporting China’s AIDS Response.

This publication offers an account of UNAIDS’ 30-year engagement in China—tracing key milestones, documenting its catalytic and convening role, and highlighting how UNAIDS supported China’s evolving AIDS response from early political mobilization to today’s dual focus on domestic priorities and global health cooperation.

Opening the event, Amakobe Sande, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Representative and former UNAIDS Country Director to China, delivered remarks on behalf of Siddharth Chatterjee, the UN Resident Coordinator in China, underscoring the historical importance of the launch: “This is the first publication to capture the collective work of the UN system on HIV in China—more than a record of the past, it is a testament to three decades of partnership, progress, and purpose.”

In his opening remarks, Xia Gang, the Vice Administrator of National Disease Control and Prevention Administration of China (NDCPA), highlighted: For 40 years, China has made remarkable progress in AIDS response. These achievements reflect China’s commitment to prioritizing people’s health and advancing the Healthy China initiative. They also bear the imprint of three decades of close collaboration between China, UNAIDS, and UN partners. He added that “China stands ready to further deepen its cooperation with UNAIDS and other international partners, jointly advance the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, and actively promote the building of a global community of health for all”.

Mahesh Mahalingam, the UNAIDS Chief of Staff, delivered a keynote video speech on behalf of Winnie Byanyima, the UNAIDS Executive Director and the UN Under-Secretary-General, emphasizing the relevance of this publication at a pivotal moment: “Ending AIDS is a matter of justice, dignity and inclusion. Going the last mile means ensuring that no one is left behind”. 

The event featured an expanded panel bringing together former and current UNAIDS leaders, UN Cosponsors, national counterparts, and community representatives. Discussions highlighted first-hand perspectives from those who shaped—and were shaped by—three decades of AIDS response in China, while exploring pivotal turning points in China–UNAIDS collaboration, the evolution of national and multisectoral strategies, and the indispensable role of communities in driving progress. Panelists highlighted UNAIDS’ convening power in strengthening AIDS response, bridging government and civil society, and advancing global reporting and learning. They also underscored how China’s transformation from an early recipient of external support to a proactive contributor in global health was shaped by strategic partnerships and shared commitment.

Closing the event, Erasmus Morah, Director and Representative of the UNAIDS Office in China, called for continued unity and global solidarity across all partners, highlighting China’s leadership within the framework of South-South Cooperation (SSC). He noted that UNAIDS’ three decades in China have exemplified true partnership—where leadership and companionship advanced hand in hand. While milestones mark progress, he emphasized that the stories we tell hold lasting power, capturing what statistics alone cannot.

Finally, Dr. Morah concluded: "We hope this book and the story of HIV in China become a reference of international significance—demonstrating the UN’s value addition and contributing to global lessons on pandemic preparedness. May it inspire resilience, solidarity, and victory in the years ahead."

Bringing together over 80 participants, the event marked the first time a UN agency in China has systematically documented three decades of partnership, innovation, and national progress in the AIDS response.