China's Ministry of Health and the William J. Clinton Presidential Foundation on Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding to improve HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment in the country, Xinhuanet reports (Xinhuanet, 4/29). The Chinese government estimates that there are 840,000 HIV-positive people in the country and that 80,000 people have AIDS; however, some experts believe those figures are underestimates. The United Nations estimates that at least one million HIV-positive people live in China and the number could grow to 20 million by 2010 if efforts to prevent the virus are not implemented (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 4/21). The foundation will provide technical assistance in HIV/AIDS care and treatment, establishing treatment and testing protocols and creating monitoring and evaluating programs, according to Xinhuanet. The health ministry authorized the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences to discuss details of its AIDS plan with the Clinton Foundation, Xinhuanet reports. Chinese Vice Minister of Health Wang Longde at the signing ceremony said that the government would continue to seek financial and technical support from the international community and nongovernmental groups to "jointly explore the anti-AIDS strategy and curb the spread of AIDS in China," according to Xinhuanet (Xinhuanet, 4/29). "I congratulate China for undertaking this aggressive and timely effort to address the AIDS epidemic," former President Bill Clinton said in a statement released on Thursday, according to the AP/CBSNEWS.com (AP/CBSNEWS.com, 4/29).