Secretary Thompson Attends AIDS Symposium in Japan, Visits with Prime Minister Koizumi

March 23, 2004 - Delivering the keynote address at an international symposium in Japan on HIV/AIDS and communicable disease, Secretary Tommy Thompson on Monday urged the international community to do more to prevent the spread of AIDS in Asia.

The Secretary warned that without quick action, Asia could face the same devastation from the disease that has afflicted Africa. "Children have lost parents, firms have lost workers, the community has lost teachers, doctors, and farmers, and the nations have lost next-generation leaders," said Thompson.

Secretary Thompson said that he was particularly worried about China, where HIV prevalence is increasing at a rate of 20 to 30 percent per year, adding to the estimated one million Chinese who are already living with HIV. Indeed, the Secretary warned the HIV/AIDS problem in Africa would be considered "minimal" when compared with India and China, if those countries allowed the disease to spread.

Secretary Thompson also urged Japan to actively involve itself in the global-scale fight against communicable diseases.

"Japan and the United States are superpowers accounting for 40 percent of the world economy. Both of us are responsible in action not only for our peoples, but also for the peoples of the rest of the world," said the Secretary.

In addition to his participation in the symposium, entitled "Human Security Challenges of HIV/AIDS and Communicable Diseases in Asia," Secretary Thompson took time to meet with several Japanese leaders to discuss global AIDS and health issues, including Prime Minister Koizumi.

Prior to his arrival in Japan, Secretary Thompson was in Geneva at the 7th Executive Board Meeting of the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria.

Last revised: October 10, 2007