Beijing Wednesday launched an ambitious action plan to raise the average life span of its inhabitants from 80.27 years to 81 years.

A special function was held in the city to mark the start of the scheme: Healthy Beijingers -- A Ten-Year-Long Action Plan for All Residents' Health Improvement. Among the attendees was Mayor Guo Jinlong.

Addressing the function, Fang Laiying, chief of the Beijing Municipal Health Department, said it was hoped to improve the health of locals comprehensively by the plan's implementation, but lengthening life span was just one of 11 objectives.

Further objectives are: increased health awareness, a decrease in the consumption of salt and edible oils, cuts in adult smoking rates, and more weekly exercise. The others are: greater awareness of dental hygiene, a drop in obesity rates in middle and primary school students, lower mortality rates among pregnant women and babies, better community health services for high blood pressure and diabetes control, and improved health checkups for people groups.

In accordance with the plan, the municipal government would work to achieve the objectives through popularizing health information, advocating healthy food, tobacco control and greater exercise.

Efforts will also be made to further dentition, eye care, personal health awareness, the prevention and cure of malignant tumors, and safeguarding the health of mothers and infants.

The money necessary to put the plan into operation will be provided for in the city government's budget.

Also, a committee for health promotion has been set up by the city government. It will be staffed by personnel from 16 government departments who will oversee the efforts of urban districts, suburban counties and relevant government departments to implement the plan.

Fang said the incidence of chronic, non-infectious diseases has been on the rise in recent years. The diseases included high blood pressure, diabetes, coronary disease, malignant tumors, Heart disease, cerebrovascular disease and malignant tumor are the top three causes of death among Beijing people.

(Xinhua News Agency August 6, 2009)