TORONTO, Canada -- The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is in final-stage talks with China to sign a memorandum of understanding that would provide help to China in its campaign against HIV/AIDS.

Spokeswoman Jacquelline Fuller told Xinhua via phone on Wednesday that the foundation, headed by Gates, the world's richest man, and his wife, was close to reaching a landmark agreement to start an AIDS initiative in China.

However, the final funding decision for China has not yet been made, Fuller, who is in Toronto for the International AIDS Conference, said, adding that the money would mainly be used to finance AIDS prevention among the high-risk groups in China.