BEIJING, March 12 (Xinhua) -- China is considering overturning the ban that prohibits HIV-positive foreigners from entering the country, an official said here Friday.

"We are discussing lifting the ban as soon as possible," Hao Yang, deputy director-general of the Ministry of Health's Bureau of Disease Control, told Xinhua.

Hao made the remarks when responding to a question concerning media reports that Robert Dessaix, an HIV-positive Australian writer, has been denied a visa recently to attend the International Literary Festival in Shanghai.

"Such a ban was put into effect in a time when we knew little about AIDS. Now that we have realized it is unnecessary, it is time for us to lift it," he said at a meeting of the Red Ribbon Foundation (RRF), a fund that helps AIDS patients.

Hao did not say specifically when the ban would be lifted, but said "it won't be long."

"Attitude toward AIDS is a good indicator of a society's openness and confidence. China is making progress in this field as awareness of the disease is growing rapidly among the people," said Huang Mengfu, president of RRF.

The United States On Jan. 4 lifted its ban stopping any foreigner with HIV/AIDS from entering the country.