2017 World No Tobacco Day is celebrated in Shanghai.

A grand ceremony was held in shanghai on May 31 to celebrate 2017 World No Tobacco Day.

The day is aimed at encouraging a 24-hour period of abstinence from all forms of tobacco consumption around the globe. 

Dr Bernhard Schwartländer, WHO Representative in China, spoke highly of China’s achievement in curbing smoking, especially the comprehensive ban against smoking in indoors public places in Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen. 

He said that WHO is willing to promote the anti-smoking campaign with the Chinese government to better protect public health. 

At the ceremony, an investigative report on international tobacco control policies was released. 

Cartoon characters are used to promote tobacco control at home.

The Shanghai Municipal Commission of Health and Family Planning also issued a white paper on tobacco control in public places in Shanghai. 

Song Shuli, deputy director-general of the Department of Communications of the National Health and Family Planning Commission, addressed the ceremony. 

Song was one of more than 200 representatives and volunteers from the government, international organizations and media in attendance. 

This year's theme is “Tobacco - a Threat to Development”. Measures will be proposed that governments and the public should take to confront the global tobacco crisis and promote health and development. The day was first observed in 1987.