China has 1.1 billion smokers: Official

Nearly 1.1 billion Chinese people are either smoking or exposed to passive smoking, an official here has said highlighting the need to curb smoking in China, home to the world's highest number of smokers.
About 356 million people above the age of 15 are smokers, while another 738 are passively smoking, Jiang Yuan, director of Tobacco Control Office of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention said.
Cancer, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases caused by smoking have imposed economic burden of more than 223.7 billion yuan (USD 35. 9 billion) on people aged 35 and above, she said.
"China has to adopt comprehensive, long-term and effective tobacco-control measures," state run Xinhua news agency quoted her as saying.

China is mulling a ban on all forms of tobacco advertising, sponsorship and promotion of tobacco products, according to a draft regulation published on the legislative affairs office of the State Council website in November.
The draft aims at banning smoking in all kinds of indoor public places and outdoor space in kindergartens, schools, colleges, women and children's hospitals as well as in fitness venues.
Also in November, the legislature of Beijing Municipality adopted an anti-smoking legislation to ban smoking in all indoor public places, workplaces and public transport vehicles.
It is scheduled to become effective on June 1 next year.