In May, China's Ministry of Health released its first report on the hazards of smoking, which outlined the hazards of tobacco use, the ill effects of secondhand smoke, and emphasized the importance of stopping smoking.

In September, the ministry and the US Department of Health and Human Services launched the China-US Partnership on Smoke-free Workplaces, which encourages more organizations to implement smoke-free policies and extend 100 percent smoke-free protection to all indoor workplaces, public transport and indoor public places.

Howard Koh, assistant health secretary of the US department, said the initiative would not only provide a platform for a healthier workforce, but help lead to a healthier environment among the community at large.