(Source: CGTN)

Smoking-related diseases are on track to claim more than 200 million lives in China this century and plunge tens of millions into poverty. The World Health Organisation and United Nations Development Programme warned this in a new report released on Friday. 

The majority of these deaths will occur in China’s poorest and most vulnerable communities, unless critical steps are taken.

China is the world's largest consumer and producer of tobacco products. In 2015, the industry recorded nearly $160 billion in profits in China, up 20 percent year-on-year.

One of the major suggestions from the report is a smoke-free policy across the country. Currently, three of the four first-tier cities -- Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen -- have smoke-free regulations for both indoors and outdoors.

Apart from slack law enforcement, low taxes and lack of awareness of the ill effects of smoking also contribute to the country's large smoking population.