WASHINGTON, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- The Obama administration will lift a 22-year-old entry ban on HIV-positive visitors in 2010, in an effort to ensure access for all who need effective outreach and treatment and to combat discrimination more broadly, said Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Monday, the eve of World AIDS day.

    "President Obama is implementing the repeal of the HIV entry ban, a longstanding policy that prevented people living with HIV/AIDS from entering our country. The repeal will take effect early in the new year, and will be vigorously enforcing it," Clinton told a conference on the administration's efforts on HIV/AIDS.

    "Our investment in dealing with the pandemic worldwide is in America's interest. So we are committed to doing so," said Clinton, adding that the United States will redouble efforts to address the needs of women and girls who are disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS in many parts of the world.

    According to the secretary, with the repeal of the ban, the International AIDS Society will hold in Washington the 2012 International AIDS Conference, which will draw an estimated 30,000researchers, scientists, policymakers, healthcare providers, activists, and others from around the world.