Chen Jingyu. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Chen Jingyu, a deputy to the National People's Congress and vice-president of Wuxi People's Hospital, suggested that cigarette packs should carry graphic health warnings to alert smokers of the potential health hazards.

"China has 316 million smokers now and the number of Chinese men aged between 40 to 79 who died from smoking-related diseases doubled in the last 15 years," Chen said on Thursday.

"Graphic health warnings are one of the most effective and cheap ways to inform the public of the harm of smoking. By contrast, current colorful, well-designed cigarette packages might attract many teenagers to become smokers."

"The State Council should urge the relative departments, including the National Health Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the State Administration for Market Regulation, to formulate graphic warnings and put them on the packages as soon as possible," he said.

"It's the government's responsibility to inform the public and protect their health and lives," he added.