UNICEF People

Sir Roger Moore visits China to raise awareness and funds for children orphaned by AIDS

© UNICEF China/2004

Sir Roger Moore, UNICEF China Representative Dr. Christian Voumard and Deputy Director General of the Department of International Trade and Economic Affairs, Ministry of Commerce, Zhu Hong, receive a $100,000 check from Asian Football Confederation Presid

BEIJING, 6 August 2004 – Sir Roger Moore and Lady Kristina Moore arrived in Beijing on Wednesday, 4 August, to begin their mission of raising both awareness and funds for children orphaned by AIDS in China.

Their first major engagement was the Asian Football Confederation’s 50th Anniversary Gala at the Beijing Grand Hyatt Hotel. Table sales, an auction of football memorabilia and an innovative pledge campaign linked to the number of goals scored in the Asian Cup were all used at the Gala to raise funds for a UNICEF-assisted project that provides support to China’s AIDS orphans, now believed to total some 78,000.

© UNICEF China/2004

A Beijing Opera warrior displays football memorabilia to be auctioned off at the Asian Football Confederation’s 50th Anniversary fundraiser for UNICEF.

Sir Roger spoke about his work for UNICEF and about HIV/AIDS and iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) in China in a series of interviews with international and national media, including APTN, China’s Xinhua News Agency, China Daily, China Radio International and the Football Asia TV Channel. Sir Roger paid tribute to China as “a bright shining example to other countries in the world” through its achievements with IDD. He also noted the Chinese Government’s determination to address HIV/AIDS so that China would never have to face the situations he has witnessed in Africa.

Sir Roger and Lady Kristina are planning to attend the Asian Cup final between China and Japan at the Workers’ Stadium in Beijing. Sir Roger is really looking forward to the game. “I hope that we will see a lot of goals,” he said, “not just because this will make for an exciting game, but because every time a goal is scored, AIDS orphans all over China will reap the benefits of UNICEF’s Goals For Children campaign.”

© UNICEF China/2004

Sir Roger Moore with the Assistant Minister of Commerce, Yi Xiaozhan.

Sir Roger and Lady Kristina will travel to Xian – an ancient and now industrialized city in west China, on 8 August, where they will observe the production and use of iodized salt. Sir Roger has been heavily involved over the years with IDD, both for UNICEF and Kiwanis. Explaining his interest in this issue, he said, “Iodine deficiency is one of the few global problems for which we have readily available and affordable solutions.”

Upon his return to Beijing, Sir Roger and his wife will attend the opening ceremony for a summer camp for children orphaned by AIDS, which will be held at the Great Hall of the People on 10 August. During this event, Sir Roger will meet children orphaned by AIDS in person and talk with them about their experiences.

On 11 August, Sir Roger will give a press conference in Beijing with Mr. Pu Cunxin, a well-known actor and AIDS activist, at which he will talk about his field visit to Xian and his other impressions of this, his first visit to China.