Shenzhen's anti-AIDS ambassador Pu Cunxi attended the premiere of a local public welfare TV commercial and a series of poster ads yesterday.

The 30-second commercial, shows Pu surfing the Internet for AIDS prevention information, posing as a basketball player promoting a healthy lifestyle and warning people against drugs, dressed in a traffic police uniform to persuade people to stop unsafe sex practices and putting on a motorcycle helmet to promote the use of condoms.

The actor suggested that the billboard ads, printed with his images, anti-AIDS slogans, and the hotline 2553-8442, be put up at Metro, bus stations, ferry terminals and other public places, which see a big daily passenger flow.

Though the TV and movie star earns handsomely for promoting products in TV commercials, he has acted unpaid for the anti-AIDS ad. When the basketball player scene was shot, Pu was wearing just a vest and shorts in Beijing's subzero temperatures.

"I have been the public promoter of the anti-AIDS campaign launched by the Ministry of Health since 2000, and I am happy to serve as Shenzhen's anti-AIDS ambassador as long as you need me," he said.

"Before a cure is found for AIDS, teaching people about prevention is the only effective vaccine for the deadly disease. I am proud to be part of it. People would not jump into a river if they couldn't swim; people seldom leave their gas on while they are away," the actor said.

and no one would cross an intersection with their eyes shut. Most people tempt fate by sharing syringes or practicing unprotected sex because they do not realize the danger," the actor said.

"I had a blood test at Chaoyang District in Beijing in public last year to show others the importance of HIV tests and early treatment. I also had my cartoon image printed on condoms to promote the use of them," he said.

"It's nothing to be shy of. I am quite professional in the campaign."

The TV commercial will appear on local screens during golden hours (NOTE PEAK TIME?) following public welfare regulations for TV stations, according to Cheng Jinquan, an official with the Shenzhen Center of Disease Prevention and Control.

A total of 622 people were confirmed as being infected with HIV in Shenzhen last year, three quarters of whom were male. Only 17.4 percent of those infected have received senior high school education.

Editor: Yan