Nearly 1.1 billion Chinese people are either smoking or are exposed to secondhand smoke, prompting the government to consider a ban on all forms of tobacco advertising in the country, the Tobacco Control Office of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention said.

These people, the Tobacco Control Office said, are exposed to cancers caused by smoking as well as other smoke-related diseases such as cardiovascular and respiratory illnesses.

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Jian Yuan, the director of the Tobacco Control Office, said smoke-related cancers and other diseases have caused economic burden of more than 223.7 billion yuan (around US $35.9 billion) for Chinese citizens at or above the age of 35.

She added that with the latest figures the Chinese government needs to immediately adopt and implement comprehensive, long term, and effective measures that will educate the public about the ills of smoking.

Jian also stressed that the government has to adopt measures that will control tobacco addiction in China.

"China has to adopt comprehensive, long-term and effective tobacco-control measures," she said.

The State Council, China's cabinet, earlier said it was planning to come up with a legislation that will control or totally ban all forms of tobacco-related advertising, sponsoring and promotion.

Based on the draft ban crafted by the State Council, smoking in all kinds of indoor public places and outdoor space will no longer be allowed, especially in kindergartens, schools, colleges, women and children's hospitals as well as in health gyms and other fitness venues.

In Beijing, smoking in all indoor public places, workplaces and public vehicles will be banned starting June 1, 2015.

TagsChina Smoke, China Smoking Ban