Despite the slower spread of the HIV epidemic, China still faced "a severe task" of AIDS prevention and treatment, Vice Premier Li Keqiang said on Wednesday.

"China is still confronted with a severe task of AIDS prevention and treatment, although the spread of the epidemic has slowed down thanks to the joint efforts of government, professionals and the public," Li said in a meeting with Executive Director of Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) Michel Sidibe.

Before his meeting with the Vice Premier, the UNAIDS chief went to Shanghai to launch the UN 2009 AIDS epidemic update on Tuesday.

China has 560,000 to 920,000 people infected by HIV virus and 97,000 to 112,000 AIDS patients by the end of 2009, according to estimates by the Ministry of Health and the UNAIDS.

"We will continue to consolidate AIDS prevention and treatment among high-risk groups in key areas," Li told Sidibe.

Li said China would improve the disease detection and treatment and fully implement policies of free treatment and humane care.

Li highlighted the country's efforts to step up AIDS awareness education among the public and mobilize social forces in disease prevention and control in a bid to minimize the AIDS impact.

As AIDS is a major disease and social issue facing the whole humanity, Li called for concerted efforts of the international community.

He pledged China's commitment to stronger international cooperation, saying the country will expand information and technology exchanges, share experience in prevention and treatment, shoulder international obligations and contribute to the health and security of human.

China now has 276 AIDS control programs jointly operated with more than 40 foreign governments or international organizations, involving 3.58 billion yuan in fund.

Sidibe, who was on his first China visit since serving as UNAIDS chief in January 2009, said the Vice Premier's meeting with him "showed the country's commitment to this cause."

Their meeting came days ahead of the World AIDS Day which falls on Dec. 1 every year.

Sidibe, also under Secretary General of the United Nations, praised China's efforts in AIDS prevention and treatment and called for stronger cooperation between the United Nations and China.

Founded in 1996, UNAIDS is an innovative joint venture of the United Nations, bringing together the efforts and resources of 10 UN system organizations in AIDS response to help the world prevent new HIV infections, care for people living with HIV, and mitigate the impact of the epidemic.

With its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, the UNAIDS Secretariat works on the ground in more than 80 countries worldwide. Its Beijing office started operation in 1996.