China lifts travel ban against people with HIV
BEIJING, China
China's Cabinet, the State Council, said in a statement posted
to its website late Tuesday that the government passed amendments
on April 19, revising the Border Quarantine Law as well as China's
Law on Control of the Entry and Exit of Aliens. The changes were
effective immediately.
The decision follows similar moves by the United States and
South Korea to eliminate travel restrictions for people with the
HIV virus. Both lifted their bans on visitors with HIV on Jan. 1.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomed China's decision and
urged other countries that still bar people with HIV to change
their laws as soon as possible.
"I commend President Hu Jintao for China's decision to remove
travel restrictions based on HIV status," Ban said in a statement.
"Punitive policies and practices only hamper the global AIDS
response."
The Shanghai Expo begins Saturday and runs for six months.
