While western researchers say development of an AIDS vaccine is a distant reality, China says it is in the process of successfully developing an AIDS vaccine and initial test results of its first AIDS vaccine showed inspiring results.

Quoting the State Food and Drug Administration sources, a China Daily report said none of the participants in the clinical trial's first phase showed severe adverse reactions after 180 days and some showed immunity to the HIV-1 virus 15 days after receiving the vaccine. SFDA claimed the vaccine has been found effective in stimulating the body's immunity. Researchers were still analysing the outcome of the initial trial before deciding whether further tests would be carried out.

The research was headed by Kong Wei, of Jilin University and the first phase tests began in March last year in southwestern China's Guangxi region, with participation of 49 healthy men and women aged between 18-50. The Ministry of Science and Technology says another 800 volunteers, including those from high-risk groups, would be needed for the second and third phases of the trial.

The report said China started its own research into an AIDS vaccine in 2003 and has already invested over 100 million yuan (12.5 million dollars) into projects for the treatment and prevention of the disease. Around 650,000 people in China, about 0.05 per cent of its 1.3 billion population are HIV virus carriers. In 2006, 70,000 Chinese contracted the virus, according to official estimates, equivalent to 192 per day. The government and outside experts predict there could be 1.5 million cases by 2010.

It may be noted that about 30 AIDS vaccines are at various stages of development and the most promising vaccine is from the Merck's stable. It is difficult to develop an effective HIV/AIDS vaccine because the virus infects the immune system cells that usually would be stimulated by a vaccine. Researchers feel that the current experimental vaccines are unlikely to help in developing a full-fledged vaccine that can prevent people from infecting the disease.