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Shanghai Expo rejects $29m tobacco donation

(CRIENGLISH.com)
Updated: 2009-07-22 11:02

Photo taken on July 4, 2009 shows the China Pavilion under construction for the Shanghai 2010 World Expo in Shanghai, east China. The Shanghai 2010 World Expo is to open on May 1, 2010. [Xinhua]

Shanghai Expo has refused a controversial 200 million yuan (US$29.3 million) donation from the Shanghai Tobacco Company, according to Wu Yiqun, an official from a Beijing-based Chinese tobacco control organization, the Beijing News reported on Wednesday.

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 According to Wu, the organizers of the Shanghai Expo declared they have refused the donation from the Shanghai Tobacco Corporation in order to achieve the 'healthy Expo' goal.

The Shanghai Tobacco (Group) Corp donated 200 million yuan to the China Pavilion of the Shanghai Expo on May 7th. It was the largest contribution since the China Pavilion kicked off its donation program in 2007.

However, at the beginning of July, Chinese public health experts publicly petitioned the Expo to return the donation, which was considered a serious violation of China's commitment to the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).

FCTC came into effect on January 9, 2006 after being ratified by the National People's Congress. Article 13 of the convention requires parties to impose a comprehensive ban on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship to reduce the consumption of tobacco products.