China' health departments are planning a complete smoking ban in nurseries and schools next month.

Wednesday's Beijing News quoted the Ministry of Health as saying nurseries, as well as primary and middle schools would be banned from having smoking rooms.

The ministry said the premise of a "no smoking campus" would soon kick off as part of the activities for the 21st World No Tobacco Day on May 31.

The schools were asked to provide a "no smoking campus" and faculty were encouraged to stop smoking themselves, according to the ministry.

This year's functions will focus on keeping children away from smoking.

It will also crackdown upon illegal tobacco adverts jointly with other departments, a ministry source said.

The World Health Organization (WHO) Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic said tobacco advertising can hook more potential young smokers.

A 2006 report issued by the ministry said about 50 million Chinese teens smoked, accounting for 14.28 percent of the country's total smokers.

(Xinhua News Agency April 9, 2008)