Premier Wen Jiabao on Tuesday urged for better monitoring of high-risk groups in a bid to curb the spread of AIDS.

He made the remarks during his visit to a Beijing hospital on World AIDS Day yesterday. It was his sixth annual visit to AIDS patients.

At the Beijing Home of Red Ribbon in Ditan Hospital, which specializes in infectious disease treatment, Wen and Vice-Premier Li Keqiang visited two AIDS patients and medical volunteers.

He encouraged the HIV sufferers to live on with hope and confidence, while pledging government support for the treatment of AIDS patients and HIV carriers.

During a later meeting with AIDS researchers, doctors and international nongovernmental organization representatives, Wen urged better monitoring of high-risk groups for a more exact analysis of the AIDS situation.

He also called for better protection of the legitimate interests and rights of AIDS patients and HIV carriers.

These high-profile activities showcased the government's resolve to tackle the growing AIDS problems in the country and help remove the social stigma against HIV-positive people.

Since China reported its first AIDS case in 1985, the world's most populous nation has recorded 319,877 HIV infections, including 49,845 deaths by October, according to the Ministry of Health.

Yet, the statistics only include cases reported by medical facilities. The ministry and UNAIDS estimate that China has 560,000 to 920,000 HIV carriers. By the end of 2009, China will have 97,000 to 112,000 AIDS patients.

Notably, another 50 million in the country are at high risk of the disease, including sex workers, migrant laborers, and men having sex with men, experts warned.

Part of governmental efforts to curb the disease, the policy of "four frees and one care" was implemented in 2004.

It includes providing:

- anti-viral drugs and treatment for poor patients

- free counseling

-free antibody pre-screening services, free counseling and maternity tests for pregnant women

- free tuition fees for children orphaned by AIDS.

Local governments also offer living subsidies to AIDS patients and orphans.

Despite strong anti-AIDS commitment from the top leadership, problems surrounding policy execution exist, particularly at the local level, officials say.

On Nov 25, 38 HIV/AIDS sufferers from Henan province, mainly infected through tainted blood transfusions, protested for better care from the government at the gate of the Ministry of Health.

In response, vice-health minister Huang Jiefu said: "The local government would definitely be held accountable for this if we can verify the complaints of the petitioners."