Photo taken on Nov. 27, 2020 shows diagnostic kits for HIV at a pharmacy in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province. (Xinhua/Wang Guansen)

BEIJING, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- December 1st marks World AIDS Day. Every year, on 1 December, people around the world unite to show support for people living with and affected by HIV and to remember those who lost their lives to AIDS.

In 2020, the world's attention has been focused on the impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic on health and livelihoods. People living with HIV face additional challenges during the global pandemic as essential HIV services including HIV prevention, testing, treatment and care services are being disrupted particularly in countries with fragile health systems.

On the occasion of World AIDS Day, let's join hands in paying tribute to all those who have long been on the frontline of HIV service delivery, and calling for "global solidarity" to maintain essential HIV services during COVID-19 and beyond.

We can all contribute to the effort of ending the colliding pandemics of HIV and COVID-19 to make the world a healthier place to live.

A staff member checks the test results at the HIV serology laboratory of Yunnan center for disease control and prevention in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Nov. 25, 2020. (Xinhua/Hu Chao)

Visitors learn AIDS prevention know-hows during an AIDS awareness campaign held on the occasion of World AIDS Day at Haidian Hospital in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 1, 2020. (Xinhua/Ren Chao)

Photo taken on Dec. 1, 2019 shows the online HIV testing reservation system of Blued in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Li Meng)

A man takes an HIV/AIDS blood test during a public awareness campaign ahead of World AIDS Day in Bandung, Indonesia, Nov. 30, 2019. (Photo by Septianjar/Xinhua)

People demonstrate how to use oral HIV testing kit during the World AIDS Day activities in Kigali, Rwanda, Dec. 1, 2017. (Xinhua/Gabriel Dusabe)

A red ribbon made of balloons is seen at the venue of the activities marking the World AIDS Day in Kigali, capital of Rwanda, on Dec. 1, 2019. (Photo by Cyril Ndegeya/Xinhua)

Volunteers light candles during a candlelight march on World AIDS Day in Mumbai, India on Dec. 1, 2019. World AIDS Day is observed on Dec. 1 to raise public awareness about the disease. (Photo by Fariha Farooqui/Xinhua)

A person receives a free HIV test during the World AIDS Day activities in Kigali, Rwanda, Dec. 1, 2017. (Xinhua/Gabriel Dusabe)

Bunches of flowers are seen in a World AIDS Day memorial in New York, the United States, Dec. 1, 2018. (Xinhua/Wang Ying)

People receive free medical check-ups during the activities marking World AIDS Day in Kigali, capital of Rwanda, on Dec. 1, 2019. (Photo by Cyril Ndegeya/Xinhua)

Indian students take part in a World AIDS Day rally in Mumbai, India, Dec. 1, 2018. (Xinhua/Stringer) ■