Nearly ninety percent of newly reported HIV/AIDS patients in China over the past nine months this year were infected through sexual contact, according to a report released Sunday.

Statistics from the annual HIV/AIDS showed sexual transmission was attributable to 89.9 percent of the new cases from January to September. About 69 percent of all new cases resulted from heterosexual practices while another 21 percent through homosexual contact.

The percentage of sex contact in newly reported cases is on the rise in recent years, surging from 11.6 percent in 2005 to 80.4 percent in 2011, according to the report.

This means the infected groups are more diverse and widely spreading, leading to more difficulties in preventing and controlling the disease, said Wu Zunyou, director of the HIV/AIDS division of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

Nearly one fourth of the respondents to a recent survey admitted to have more than one sex partner, Wu revealed, calling for "loyalty to the spouse" which is crucial to preventing HIV infections.

Governments of all levels, non-governmental organizations and scientific institutions are making all-out efforts including providing tests and treatment, promoting anti-AIDS education and distributing condoms to the public to curb the spread of the disease, he said.

China reported some 70,000 cases of new HIV infections in the first nine months of the year, bringing the total number of people living with HIV/AIDS to 434,000, according to the National Health and Family Planning Commission.

An exclusive interview with Steven Kraus, Director of UNAIDS Asia and the Pacific, on the 26th World AIDS Day:

• Alarm as HIV cases soar among men who have sex with men

• Asia and the Pacific needs more funds to fight AIDS

• HIV stigma, discrimination remain widespread in Asia-Pacific region

• More efforts needed by Asia-Pacific countries to create an AIDS-free generation

• China's fight against AIDS gains 'huge progress'

• Full text of interview with Steven Kraus, Director of UNAIDS Asia and the Pacific