BEIJING: China is failing to deliver on pledges to help its 300 million smokers kick the habit, according to health experts who warned of a sharp rise in tobacco-linked deaths if strong steps are not taken.

By 2030, more than 3.5 million Chinese could die from smoking-related illnesses each year, compared with 1.2 million in 2005, a joint report by Chinese and foreign medical experts said.

The report, “Tobacco Control and the Future of China”, was officially released on Thursday and said China would almost certainly miss a January 9 deadline to impose an indoor ban on smoking.

China, the world's largest tobacco producer and consumer, pledged to enact the ban when it became a party to the World Health Organisation's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) five years ago.

“China's score remains low in terms of its implementation of tobacco control and FCTC obligations. China significantly lags behind in its implementation of the FCTC's requirements,” the report said.

The report was sponsored by the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention.—AFP