China seems to be ready to drop a decade-old voyage ban on foreigners inflicted with HIV.

Insiders said that the ban might be lifted after the State Council, China's Cabinet, took a decision on Monday, to make changes to rules denying entry of foreign HIV victims in the nation.

At present, foreigners affected by mental disorders or communicable diseases such as leprosy and HIV/AIDS are denied admission.

Hao Yang, Deputy Director of the Ministry of Health's Disease Prevention and Control Bureau, said that though no schedule was revealed, the reforms are liable to be declared before the official opening of Shanghai Expo on May 1, which is estimated to lure 4 million tourists from overseas.

He said that laws on the long-term stay, dwelling and migration of HIV/AIDS victims will be clearly described in the upcoming time.

China, with a populace of 740,000, tested HIV positive, is still amongst more than 60 nations that disallow entry to victims only because of their HIV status.

He Xiong, Deputy Director of the Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control, said, "The ban imposed in the 1980s due to a lack of knowledge is obsolete and discriminatory".