High time to stub out tobacco across the country

There is strong evidence from around the world that implementing the measures included in the convention can have a massive effect on reducing tobacco use. Since a tobacco control law containing many of these policies first came into effect in Russia in 2013, the number of smokers in Russia, a country with an even higher smoking prevalence rate than China, is reported to have dropped by as much as 17 percent in just one year.

We at WHO have been greatly encouraged to see progress on some of these policy areas in China over the last year. A draft national regulation to ban smoking in all indoor and some outdoor public places, and requiring stronger warning labels on tobacco products, is undergoing deliberation at the State Council. The NPC Standing Committee is currently considering amendments to the national Advertising Law to strengthen restrictions on tobacco advertising.

Now, strong political commitment is needed, along with steely determination to stare down interference from the vested interests of the tobacco industry.  This will translate the promise of progress into strong, well-enforced tobacco control policies which save lives.

I hope to see political leaders from across the country discussing how they can work together to achieve this during the two national sessions this week.

During last year's NPC meeting, Premier Li Keqiang famously declared a "war on air pollution" - to the Chinese government's great credit, as air pollution is a well-documented and very serious threat to health in China. Our hope is that 2015 will be the year China declares war on the tobacco epidemic.

The author is WHO Representative in China.