In a round-table discussion, the two said they have devoted so much time to AIDS, which has claimed more than 25 million lives since the first cases were uncovered in Africa 25 years ago, because they believe the disease is one of the greatest heartaches of their generation.

"It's a breathtaking human tragedy," Clinton said during the first senior-level discussion of the 16th International AIDS Conference.

More than 24,000 researchers, activists and health workers from 132 countries are attending the five-day summit. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the first reported cases of human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV. Since the beginning of the pandemic, nearly 65 million people have been infected with HIV globally and AIDS has killed more than 25 million people.

Microsoft founder Gates has stepped down from his day-to-day duties at the company to devote more time to charity.

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has given $1.9 billion to support HIV/AIDS projects worldwide since 1995 and recently announced a $500 million grant to the Global Fund to fight AIDS.

The Japan Times Weekly: Aug. 19, 2006
(C) All rights reserved