Mrs Chantal BIYA, founding President of the African Synergy against AIDS and Suffering, has appended her signature to the Beijing Declaration on the fight against HIV/AIDS. This was during a summit hosted by Mrs Peng Liyuan, spouse of the Chinese President, on 4 September 2018 at Fanghua Villa – Diayutai State Guest House.
Over 40 other African First Ladies and Heads of International Organisations attended the event held on the sidelines of the 2018 Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). They met under the theme: "China and Africa: Join Hands for a Future Free of AIDS".
In her welcome speech, Mrs Peng Liyuan congratulated her peers for their relentless efforts aimed at eradicating the disease. She shared her personal experience and promised to collaborate with her African counterparts to achieve an AIDS free China and Africa.
The First Ladies of South Africa, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Ghana, Kenya, Sudan, and Zambia equally took the floor to highlight the challenges and achievements in the prevention and control of HIV/AIDS in their respective countries and regions.
Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO) encouraged the First Ladies to continue their exceptional humanitarian actions. He advised them to redirect their energies to the quality of treatment, access to treatment, and sensitisation.
On his part, Mr Michel Sidibe, Executive Director of UNAIDS urged the First Ladies to strive for zero mother-to-child transmissions.
The event closed with a presentation of Chinese intangible cultural heritage.
