THREE Manchester United stars have taken time out of the team's tour of Asia to bring a smile to the faces of youngsters affected by HIV and AIDS in China.

Ryan Giggs, Rio Ferdinand and Chinese player Dong Fangzou, met up with meet local children in Guangzhou, capital of the Guandong Province in the southern part of the People's Republic.

And they spent time chatting to them and learning about the youngsters' individual situations, as part of the Old Trafford club's continuing work for UNICEF.

The three stars then showed off their soccer skills by staging a football workshop for the excited youngsters, who had been eager to meet some of their sporting heroes.

Stigma

Their work in the Province was aimed at supporting UNICEF's AIDS campaign, including combating stigma, by informing the public of the reality of the condition.

A spokesman for the charity said: "It is important that people realise for example, that you cannot contract HIV/AIDS through hugging, or holding hands with people who are HIV positive.

"The children that the players met are affected by the condition in one way or another, including some that have been orphaned, and others that live with HIV victims."

Manchester United has been at the forefront of work to help UNICEF since 1999, and the partnership is the longest collaboration between a Premiership soccer club and a global charity.

Ryan Giggs was last year appointed an official ambassador for the charity, to honour a six-year commitment to the organisation.

The player has had a key role in the `United for UNICEF' partnership, and over the years has seen at first hand the many issues affecting children across the world.

The United star has also helped raise vital funds for the charity by fronting several TV appeals during emergencies such as the Tsunami.

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