Gates gives $33m to fight tuberculosis in China

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation will work with China's health ministry over the next five years to develop some of the world's most advanced detection and treatment methods for tuberculosis, he said.

"China is taking the threat of TB very seriously and we're excited to support its efforts," Gates said as he announced the partnership at a global conference on tuberculosis organised by the World Health Organisation.

Gates said he had chosen to make the donation because China's efforts in tackling tuberculosis were pioneering and their partnership would have flow-on benefits for the rest of the world.

Gates also pointed to WHO figures showing China had nearly 1.3 million new cases of tuberculosis each year, accounting for about 15 percent of the world's total.