“Myanmar appealed on Tuesday to the international community to increase assistance in combating HIV/AIDS, as AIDS response in the country has entered a critical stage,” Xinhua reports, adding, “The appeal was made by participants attending” a round-table discussion on reaching zero AIDS-related stigma and discrimination in the country (12/6).

In a separate article, Xinhua writes, “Myanmar has worked out a national strategic plan (2011-15) to fight HIV/AIDS in the next five years, which highlights the creative use of diverse types of mass media to reduce stigma and discrimination and to reduce the risk of HIV transmission among key affected populations and youths” (12/7). Earlier this month, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made a visit to Myanmar, during which she met with President Thein Sein and democratic opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, urging continued reform in the country, according to BBC News (12/2).