China has set up a new foundation to support non-governmental charity programs for AIDS control, the National Health and Family Planning Commission said Tuesday.

The foundation was initiated by the government but will raise funds from both the public and private sector, including individual donors and international organizations, the commission said in a press release.

The central government has allocated 50 million yuan (8.16 million U.S. dollars) as the initial fund.

The foundation will be open to registered non-government organizations (NGOs) nationwide, which are engaged in awareness programs in high-risk groups, intervention and counseling services for HIV-positive people and AIDS patients.

It will take applications annually and an expert panel will review them using open, fair and just criteria.

The foundation office is attached to the Chinese Preventive Medicine Association. It began taking applications on Tuesday.