On a press conference held by China's State Council News Office on Jan 7, the country's National Health and Family Planning Commission spokesman announced it's will roll out a nationwide smoking ban in public places by year's end. The expansion of the ban showed the determination of Chinese central government in the anti-smoking campaign, and is wide expected to be able to change the course of the tobacco epidemic within China.

Mao Qun'an, spokesman of China's National Health and Family Planning Commission, speaks at a a press conference held by China's State Council News Office on Jan 7, 2014. [Photo/icpress.cn]