Leaders get tough

President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang have vowed to crack down harshly on drug crimes and to contain the spread of drugs.

In a written instruction made public on Wednesday ahead of International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, which falls on Thursday, Xi said China faces a grave situation on drug control.

Li, who wrote an instruction to drug control authorities recently, also underscored the importance of controlling drugs, which he described as a "common enemy to humanity".