Beijing advocates two 'non-smoking' sessions   

中国控制吸烟协会呼吁打造无烟两会

(ECNS) - Experts have called for non-smoking sessions of the National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, and the Chinese Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), China's top political advisory body, when they convene in Beijing in March.

The Standing Committee of the Beijing Municipal People's Congress passed a smoking control regulation in November 2014, forbidding smoking in public places, working areas, and other places where crowds congregate.

Wu Yiqun, an expert at the ThinkTank Research Center for Health Development, says the two "non-smoking" sessions will play a positive role in the implementation of smoking control regulation across Beijing.

NPC duties and CPPCC members should not smoke in indoor areas, use public funds to buy cigarettes or persuade others to smoke, he says.