On July 2, under the accompany of leaders from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Deputy Director Yu Luming from Beijing Bureau of Health, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and his wife came to the Home of Red Ribbon of Beijing Ditan Hospital to visit the AIDS patients there. Hospital Director Mao Yu and working staff of the Home of Red Ribbon introduced to the guests the hospital’s efforts for AIDS prevention and treatment.

At the invitation of the Chinese Government, UN Secretary Ban Ki-moon arrived in Beijing on July 1, kicking off his three-day visit to China. Dedicated to the prevention and treatment of AIDS and other infectious diseases, the Secretary General included the activity in the Home of Red Ribbon into his schedule in China.

After listening to the introductions made by Director Mao Yu and his colleagues in the Home of Red Ribbon, the Secretary General had a cordial talk with three AIDS patients. At the news that one lady patient just gave birth to a baby, Ban Ki-moon and his wife encouraged her to look up in the fight against AIDS. Mr. Secretary General appreciated the voluntary work of these three patients in the Home of Red Ribbon and encouraged them to be more optimistic in life. After the talk, the patients presented Mr. Secretary General with a hand-made cloth tiger as a gift.

Before concluding the visit, Secretary General Ban Ki-moon agreeably left the following statement: “On the post of UN Secretary General, I will go to great lengths to fight against AIDS. I show my deep appreciation to all the efforts to eradicate AIDS and other diseases in the world.” He took a group picture with the working staff in the hospital before receiving from Deputy Director Yu Luming a tea can printed with profiles of past and present Beijing Ditan Hospital.