APPENDIX 40
Letter from the Minister of Health People's
Republic of China to the Chairman of the Committee (TB 63)
Thank you for your fax dated 1 February 2000.
I am pleased to exchange ideas with you on the issue of tobacco
and health.
In my knowledge, China is the largest developing
country and the world's largest tobacco consumer. The Ministry
of Health of China has recognized that the effect of tobacco on
health is an important public health issue. In order to protect
the health of the public, Chinese governments at all levels have
been actively facilitating the tobacco control program in the
last 20 years, and implementing extensive health education on
tobacco control. Meanwhile, large-scale promotion is being carried
out annually in collaboration with the World No Tobacco Day
initiated by WHO. In addition, the central government issued
four regulations relating to tobacco control and other concerned
byelaws and documents. So far, no advertisement can be found in
mass media, and outdoor advertisements have been banned in some
cities as well. Smoking is restricted in all domestic flights,
as well as other public transportation means and waiting rooms.
Local regulations on Tobacco Free in public areas have
been stipulated in 88 cities, Tobacco Free Schools have
been established among primary and middle schools, colleges and
universities, thus, there are 12,000 schools entitled as "No
Smoking Schools". In the meantime, NGOs carried out various
tobacco controlling activities. Hence, tobacco control has caught
great attention from the public, and the smoking rate is decreasing
among some populations.
Although China has achieved significant progress
in tobacco control, the smoking rate is still very high, due to
400 years' tobacco use. In addition, tobacco is closely linked
with economy, the smoking rate can not be reduced rapidly in a
short period of time, therefore, China has to take painstaking
and arduous efforts for a long term for the tobacco control cause.
We think that tobacco control not only should be carried out domestically,
but also need joint efforts of all countries in the world. Therefore,
we support the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control of
the World Health Organization. It is believed that we can gradually
reduce the health hazard caused by tobacco with our active efforts.
I would like to take this opportunity to learn
about the attitudes and stands of the British government towards
tobacco control and the progress made thereof.
24 Apil 2000
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