China has banned officials from smoking in public places such as schools and hospitals in renewed efforts to cut the 1.4million deaths linked to tobacco each year.
The edict, which comes from the highest levels of the ruling Communist Party, has been hailed as a 'major breakthrough' in a country which has the world's largest number of smokers with 300million.
Until Sunday's notice from the State Council, or China's Cabinet, and the party's central committee, attempts to curb smoking in public places were largely limited to city and other local-level measures.
Stubbing it out: Chinese delegates attending a
meeting at the Great Hall of the People smoke cigarettes in Beijing.
China is to ban officials from smoking in public to set an example to
the rest of the country (file picture)
The health ministry pushed out guidelines banning smoking in venues including hotels and restaurants in 2011, but these were criticized as having no clear punishments or details on how such bans would be enforced.
The new rules, which campaigners hope will help bring about a nationwide law banning smoking in public places, call on officials to lead by example by stubbing out their cigarettes.
