Anti-smoking advocate seeks help

For Wang Chen, president of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, helping curb smoking in the country has been a top concern during this year's session of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, the top political advisory body.

He has singled out a particular group that could help him in the anti-smoking campaign. "Government employees in China have higher rates of smoking than the national average," said Wang, a member of the CPPCC National Committee.

"They serve as role models for the whole of society, and they should take the lead in quitting the habit. Establishing a smoke-free government is imperative in promoting a China less dependent on tobacco."