China has pledged US$3.49 million to bolster HIV prevention services in South Africa over the next two years, Beijing’s ambassador said Thursday, in a move aimed at helping the country plug gaps in its HIV funding.
The grant, facilitated by UNAIDS, will focus on high-risk groups including young people and people who inject drugs, the Chinese embassy said.
South Africa, home to the world’s largest population of people living with HIV, previously relied on the United States for about 17% of its HIV budget – more than US$400 million a year – before Washington cut foreign aid earlier this year. Pretoria has since sought to fill the shortfall with domestic funding and support from other partners.
“We are honoured to deepen our longstanding partnership with South Africa through this grant to support the country’s HIV response,” Chinese Ambassador Wu Peng said in a statement ahead of the G20 summit in Johannesburg.
He added that China was ready to assist in establishing a sustainable HIV/AIDS response system through policy dialogue, drug supply, technology transfer and capacity building.
South African Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi welcomed the pledge, saying it would strengthen the country’s HIV response.
The announcement follows a 2024 cooperation agreement between China’s development agency and UNAIDS, the United Nations body leading the global fight against HIV/AIDS.
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