BEIJING, July 18 (Xinhua) -- About 25,000 scientists, policymakers and physicians will attend the 18th International AIDS Conference in Vienna on July 18-23 in a bid to search for better ways to stem the spread of the epidemic.
The conference will coincide with a major push for expanded access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support.
The six-day meeting, the largest regular HIV/AIDS-related gathering, is organized by the International AIDS Society, the world's leading independent association of HIV/AIDS professionals.
Since it was launched in the U.S. city of Atlanta in 1985, the conference was initially held every year, but has become a biennial event since 1994. The conference has gained great support from participating experts, medical professionals and government officials.
Previous meetings have focused on the global spread of HIV/AIDS and its effects, progress in the prevention and control of the disease, new results of scientific research on HIV/AIDS, and research into related vaccines and medications.
The 13th conference was held in Durban, South Africa, in July 2000. It called on the international community to "rise above differences and combine efforts to fight the scourge."
Held in Barcelona, Spain, in July 2002, the 14th meeting urged all governments, especially developed countries, to make it their duties to fight AIDS, and take specific and effective measures.
The 15th conference, held in Bangkok, Thailand in July 2004, called for greater political commitment by the world leaders to tackle the epidemic that had claimed 2.9 million lives in 2003.
Some new medical researches and HIV prevention methods were heralded during the 16th meeting, held in Toronto, Canada in August 2006.
The 17th conference was held in Mexico City, Mexico, in August 2008. The participants hoped the global efforts against AIDS will be reinforced and all countries especially developed countries should invest more in the fight.
