WASHINGTON, D.C. (ANS) -- Renowned for her years of service to AIDS patients in China, Dr. Gao Yaojie recently shared her passion for the voiceless with American leaders during her visit to Washington, D.C.

Dr. Gao Yaojie and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

According to a news release from ChinaAid, Yaojie first met with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in a private meeting on Nov. 30, marking her fourth meeting with the former New York Senator. The two exchanged embraces, laughter, and a renewed commitment to helping AIDS victims in China. Clinton warmly welcomed her “old friend,” and shared a brief but heartfelt moment with the Yaojie.

ChinaAid said Yaojie continued to champion the cause of AIDS victims as she launched her new book, “China's AIDS Plague: 10,000 Letters.” This was a book that was an instant best-seller in its original release five years ago, before being banned by the Chinese government..

Congressman Jim McDermott, the Chairman of the U.S. Congressional Task Force on International HIV/AIDS, introduced her with praise at the press conference, held at the National Press Club on Dec. 1, World AIDS Day.

According to ChinaAid, Yaojie took her advocacy campaign a step further in her testimony presented in the Congressional Executive Commission on China’s Roundtable on AIDS in China, held on Dec. 3. After the Roundtable, she proceeded to meet with veteran Congressmen Frank Wolf, Chris Smith, and a staff member from Joe Pitts’ office.

ChinaAid said in her final remarks at the Roundtable, Yaojie called the international community to take action on behalf of the voiceless in China. She said, “My purpose in coming from China is to make the truth about the cause of AIDS (in China) known to the outside world. There are millions of AIDS patients who were infected by blood transfusions. They are still voiceless, and must be better taken care of!”

ChinaAid is a nonprofit Christian organization which works to reveal the truth about religious persecution in China. It focuses especially on the unofficial church. For more information, go to www.chinaaid.org 

Jeremy Reynalds is a freelance writer and the founder and CEO of Joy Junction, New Mexico's largest emergency homeless shelter, http://www.joyjunction.org He has a master's degree in communication from the University of New Mexico, and a Ph.D. in intercultural education from Biola University in Los Angeles. His newest book is "Now You See Me." Additional details on some of Reynalds' previous books are available at http://www.HomelessBook.com. He lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico. For more information contact: Jeremy Reynalds at jeremyreynalds@comcast.net. Tel: (505) 400-7145.