BEIJING - Between 500,000 and 900,000 children under 15 years of age on the Chinese mainland have been affected by HIV/AIDS, expert estimations have revealed.

They mainly include children who are infected with HIV themselves, those who have lost one or both parents to AIDS, and those living with parents who are suffering from the disease.

Although government policies such as free medication have provided support to nearly 90 percent of these children, "those missing out are still living in great difficulties and support for child sufferers should be improved", said Yin Yin Nwe, United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) representative for China.