China postpones HIV-themed radio show

THE debut broadcast of China's first state-sponsored radio programme dedicated to HIV issues and featuring HIV-positive hosts was postponed, a day after police shut down a gay pageant in the capital.

The weekly one-hour talk show Positive Talks was scheduled to be co-hosted by a China National Radio anchor and an HIV-positive volunteer.

The partnership was a result of nearly two years of negotiations between the show's sponsor, the United Nations Development Programme, and the state-owned radio station.

The show was postponed since it lacked a final approval but it was not clear why since it appeared to enjoy high-level official support.

There are now between 560,000 and 920,000 people HIV-positive people in China.