22nd "World No Tobacco Day"

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Play VideoBackgrounder: "World No Tobacco Day"

May 31 is the 22nd "World No Tobacco Day". This year's campaign is focusing on cutting down smoking by making the public more aware of associated risks. Activities are being held to mark the day in some of China's major cities.

The main activity in China on World No Tobacco Day is encouraging smokers to stop smoking for one hour. Smokers are also being called on to join programs to help them kick the habit.

The major Chinese cities of Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou are hosting camps for smokers, inviting them to experience quitting smoking with the help of science, and learning effective methods based on medical advice.

Figures show only 3 percent of smokers succeed in quitting by self-control. Experts say medical guidance is an effective way to quit smoking.

Lin Jiangtao, professor of Respiratory Medicine of China-Japan Friendship Hospital, said, "For some serious smokers, they may need to use multiple methods to quit. Besides psychological counseling and prohibition, a medical cure is necessary. It can ease smokers' negative symptoms during the quitting phase."

Since the 1950s, smoking has become known to as the main cause of lung cancer.

In order to improve people's awareness of harm of tobacco, World Health Organization has began "World No Tobacco Day" since 1989.