JOHANNESBURG, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- The head of the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) has said South Africa is the ideal place for him to visit on the World AIDS Day, the South African Press Association reported.

    Michel Sidibe, speaking in Johannesburg on Monday, the eve of the World AIDS Day, said that while South Africa has more people infected with the AIDS virus than any other country, it also has anew government determined to end the crisis.

    Sidibe said South African President Jacob Zuma "is committed to making change happen."

    Zuma succeeded Thabo Mbeki, who questioned the link between HIV and AIDS.

    Zuma's administration has vowed to fight the disease.

    UNAIDS is an innovative joint venture of the United Nations family, bringing together the efforts and resources of 10 UN system organizations in the AIDS response to help the world prevent new HIV infections, care for people live with HIV and mitigate the impact of the epidemic.