China to ban public smoking

BEIJING, Dec. 12 (UPI) -- China's Ministry of Health announced Tuesday it will ban smoking in all public areas, public transportation and indoor places of business.

Ministry spokesman Mao Qun'an said the revised regulations would be sent to the central government for final approval after the ministry finishes writing out the details, reported Xinhua, China's official government-run news agency.

"Educational and medical institutions, and places offering services to children will be among the first places with smoking bans," Mao said.

The policy change follows the Chinese government signing the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in August 2005. The treaty bans all tobacco vending machines and calls for all tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship on radio, television, print media and the Internet to be phased out within five years.

A report by the country on how it is honoring the treaty is due in 2008.