China will launch a ban on smoking in all enclosed public locations including hotels, restaurants, theaters and waiting rooms at railway stations and airports starting tomorrow, according to a regulation issued by the Ministry of Health.

The nationwide ban is expected to bring the country more in line with health regulations in developed countries. According to statistics, there are more than 300 million smokers in China, roughly equal to the entire population of the United States.

Business owners should set up conspicuous non-smoking signs, carry out promotional activities to warn people of the dangers of smoking and encourage their employees to dissuade smokers from lighting up, according to the regulation.

The new regulation also says that outdoor smoking areas should not obstruct pedestrian walkways and that cigarette vending machines should be excluded from public places.

Smoking is believed to kill more than one million people in China every year and that figure is predicted to triple by 2030.

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