HONG KONG -- China's 86-year-old senior leader Deng Xiaoping, who once credited smoking with adding years to his life, has kicked the habit, a Hong Kong magazine reported Monday.
The China-watching magazine, Nineties, said the officially retired leader hoped to live into his 90s by giving up cigaretttes.
Anti-smoking activists hailed the move and expressed hope it would set a trend for China's estimated 300 million smokers.
'I'm very impressed,' said Dr. Judith Mackay, head of the Asian Consultancy on Tobacco Control. 'If Deng can quit after being a heavy smoker for so long than it shows anybody can. He is held in such high regard by the people in China and I hope others follow his example.'
Cigarettes for years were a Deng trademark. At one time, he attributed his longevity to smoking, although he later changed his mind and branded the habit one of his two vices. The other, according to Nineties, was using a spittoon.