(XIE HUANCHI)

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang visits medical workers at Beijing's Youan Hospital, home to a center for HIV/AIDS treatment, on November 30, one day ahead of World AIDS Day.

The number of people living with HIV/AIDS in China had hit 497,000 by the end of October with 154,000 deaths, according to latest official figures. Li promised more work on the prevention and treatment of AIDS and is willing to cooperate with other countries to combat HIV.

Li also said the government would work to ensure HIV-positive patients' access to equal employment and medical treatment, and to improve their quality of life.