China has been waging war against tobacco for years, but the number of smokers in the country continues to lead the world. More than a million Chinese people die of tobacco related diseases every year. In order to meet the goal of better control, experts say more education is needed.

China is a major tobacco consuming nation. Three hundred million Chinese citizens smoke every day. That's one-third of the total number of smokers in the world. China signed the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in 2006, but after four years, a lot of work remains to be done.

Chinese Vice Minister of Health Huang Jiefu said, "China has achieved some progress, but it still has a long way to go. There are three months left for implementing the Framework Convention, but we're far from comprehensively controlling tobacco. To some extent, we say a lot, and do less."

Perhaps China has not realized the negative impact of tobacco on both the health of its citizens and the country's sustainable economic development. More importantly, many Chinese smokers say their habit is not a big deal.

Hu Dayi, Director of Renmin Hospital Cardiology Department, said, "I don't think the public is fully convinced that tobacco is harmful, and can cause a lot of diseases. More and more people have heard it, but they're not fully convinced."

Officials and doctors believe it's urgent to promote education on the harmfulness of smoking. So a book on correcting misunderstandings about tobacco has been released. For example, many Chinese people think tobacco is a good gift, but the book firmly says no.

Huang said, "Tobacco-control work is complicated. It needs the cooperation of many departments and endeavors. The most important thing is to let the public, including the people in the tobacco industry, know that tobacco is harmful to people's health, and the nation's social and economic development."

The book is aimed at helping people understand the dangers of tobacco, strengthening their will to quit, and encouraging them to take up scientifically healthy lifestyles.

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