Program to champion rights of nonsmokers

BEIJING - The Red Cross Society of China launched a three-year Create a Smoke-Free Environment Program on Wednesday.

The program, seed-funded with $9 million from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, is expected to urge the Chinese government to more energetically support tobacco-control and observe the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, and change smokers' habits by educating nonsmokers on their health rights.

As one of the main operators of the program, the Red Cross Society of China has set up an office with the foundation to coordinate the program, and it will also set up an expert panel to review specific plans, which will come from various parties, including government, social groups and companies, said Zhao Baige, executive vice-president of the society.