On December 1, Liu Yandong, vice-premier of the State Council, paid a visit to Beijing You’an Hospital, where she inspected the work of HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment, had cordial conversations with some AIDS patients and received representatives of medical workers. In the plenary session of the State Council AIDS Working Committee on November 29, it was stressed that more input would be made to improve related systems and mechanisms to ensure that the objectives set for HIV/AIDS prevention and control could be realized as planned. On November 30, the NHFPC, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Civil Affairs, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, and the Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development of the State Council jointly printed and issued the Circular on Further Advancing the Work of AIDS Prevention and Control, which included clearly defined requirements for further advancing HIV/AIDS prevention and control in China. Local governments made great efforts to publicize and educate the general public, monitor the spread of HIV, provide tests for the general public, deliver comprehensive interventions and ARV treatment, and prevent mother-to-child transmission. As a result, noticeable progress was made in HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment.

10. The General Office of the CPC Central Committee and the General Office of the State Council asked the leading cadres to refrain from smoking in public places. Health literacy of Chinese residents was also enhanced. On December 29, the General Office of the CPC Central Committee and the General Office of the State Council jointly printed and issued the Circular on Matters Related to Leading Cadres’ Taking the Lead in Not Smoking in Public Places. The circular made it clear that leading cadres at all levels should set an example to abide by the smoking ban in public places and must not smoke in public places such as schools and hospitals where smoking is banned; Party and government organizations at all levels must see to it that smoking is banned in the course of carrying out official duties; efforts must be made to build Party and government organizations at all levels into organizations free from smoking; Party and government organizations at all levels must voluntarily subject themselves to the supervision of the masses and the supervision of public opinion. The NHFPC would strengthen the efforts to publicize the smoking ban and provide health education for the public; play an exemplary role to promote smoking bans in the health sector and family planning sector; facilitate the building of smoking-free environments; provide services to help smokers quit; and conduct research on legislation on banning smoking in public places.