Yvonne Lee - All Headline News Staff Reporter

Baltimore, MD (AP) - Chinese health officials are partnering up with a U.S. institute to battle AIDS in a country that officials fear will see a tenfold increase in HIV infection over the next five years.

The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention will announce Monday its cooperation with the University of Maryland's Institute of Human Virology - founded by one of the co-discoverers of the virus. They will collaborate on clinical trials, technical assistance and development of better and faster tests and vaccines, institute officials say.

The step comes as United Nations health officials warned in June that Asia's AIDS problem could rival sub-Saharan Africa if quick action is not taken to stem new infections, The Associated Press

There are 5.1 million people with the virus in India, second only to South Africa with 5.3 million infections, according to UNAIDS estimates for 2003. About 840,000 people in China have the virus, according to the Chinese Ministry of Health, but the UN has warned that number could grow to 10 million by 2010 if the epidemic is left unchecked.

The Maryland institute, which combines laboratory research, epidemiology and clinical research in an effort to get new discoveries to the neediest, can help the Chinese develop strategies and help teach physicians about diagnosis and management of the disease, among other issues, said Richard Gallo, the institute's founder-director.

Other research will focus on the history of the disease in China and a study of traditional Chinese medicines for possible treatment.