Wang Yanting, Director of the Science and Education Department of the State Tobacco Monopoly Adminis

 Introduction: Wang Yanting, Director of the Science and Education Department of the State Tobacco Monopoly Administration, stated that joining the World Trade Organization has brought competition and opportunities for the development of China's tobacco industry.

  According to news from the Chinese e-cigarette information: The current global tobacco market, except for China, is basically dominated by Philip Morris, Japan Tobacco, Imperial Brands, and British American Tobacco, which together account for nearly half of the world's cigarette production. These multinational tobacco companies, with their strong capital, mature management, advanced technology, and well-known brand images, continuously expand their market share in the fierce competition of the global tobacco industry. In comparison, whether in terms of enterprise scale or technological strength, Chinese tobacco companies still have a significant gap compared to these multinational tobacco companies. How can we quickly identify and narrow this gap during the short protection period of the tobacco industry after joining the WTO to ensure the competitiveness of the national tobacco industry?   To address this issue, the reporter interviewed Wang Yanting, Director of the Science and Education Department of the State Tobacco Monopoly Administration. 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 Competitive Situation 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 Wang Yanting stated that joining the WTO has brought competition and opportunities for the development of China's tobacco industry. To understand competition, we must first understand the global tobacco landscape: the current global tobacco landscape can be divided into four major families: one is British American Tobacco in Europe, one is Philip Morris in the Americas, one is Japan Tobacco in Asia, and the other is Chinese tobacco. Chinese tobacco accounts for one-third of the global cigarette market, one-third of cigarette production, and one-third of tobacco leaf production. Analyzing the technological level of cigarette manufacturing and the management technology level of tobacco enterprises among these four families, China's weaknesses are quite obvious. Whether in terms of the competitiveness of cigarette products, the competitiveness of tobacco leaves, or the competitiveness reflected in the market, we are still quite weak. Although our cigarette production is large, the vast majority of sales are in the domestic market, and we have not yet competed with foreign cigarettes under the same conditions in the global market; Wang Yanting mentioned that the urgent issues that need to be addressed in response to the challenges brought by joining the WTO are "how to stabilize the domestic market, how to participate in market competition, how to improve product quality, and how to reduce harmful components". Only by thoroughly analyzing the market can we find the foothold for our work, formulate countermeasures, and do our own things well. In the current context of economic globalization, China's accession to the WTO means that domestic market competition is internationalized. Theoretically, there should no longer be a distinction between domestic and international markets. However, in reality, there will still be domestic and foreign markets for a certain period, and this market difference will continue to exist for a considerable time. Chinese people have their own smoking habits and preferred products. In light of this reality and the invasion of foreign cigarettes into the Chinese market, people in the tobacco industry should calmly face the significant issue of joining the WTO. We cannot panic at the mention of the WTO, thinking that tomorrow the Chinese market will be occupied by foreign cigarettes; nor can we be indifferent, believing that Chinese tastes are fixed and difficult to change, and that our cigarette market is solid and worry-free; both of these mindsets are incorrect. 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 Reducing Tar and Harm 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 Recently, the State Tobacco Monopoly Administration announced that by 2005, the tar content of each cigarette will be reduced to around 12 milligrams, approaching international advanced levels. Will this affect the tar content and aroma of tobacco, leading to a decline in the domestic tobacco market? Wang Yanting believes that reducing tar and harm is a major issue affecting the survival and development of the tobacco industry, as it relates to the health of a large number of consumers. As producers of tobacco products, the principle to grasp is that the idea of reducing tar cannot change, but the speed of reduction can be adjusted. He believes that in China, the pace of reducing tar should be based on the principle of seeking truth from facts in the Chinese market, aiming for stability in reduction. "Stability" means maintaining the aroma and product characteristics of cigarettes, which reflects a level of management, while "reduction" reflects technical capability. Seeking stability in reduction is key, with the goal being reduction, and we cannot relax. In this regard, several issues need to be clarified, such as the target of achieving a tar content of around 12 mg per cigarette by 2005, which is an overall average based on the speed of tar reduction work in recent years. In 2002, the overall average value from market sampling was 14.75 mg per cigarette, which is already less than 15 mg per cigarette. It is possible to reach the target of around 12 mg per cigarette in the next two to three years. Additionally, the work of reducing tar is also a measure to limit some technically backward products; if enterprises want to reduce tar, they need to have a certain level of technical capability. Tar content is related to aroma to a certain extent, but it is not the case that lower tar content necessarily means lower aroma; this is a technical issue. They are related. As long as we can grasp the goal of "high aroma, low tar, low harm", it will also promote the improvement of the technical level of enterprises. Reducing tar is responsible for the health of consumers and society. We must keep pace with the times and adapt to the trend of development. We cannot only look at the market from the perspective of whether people are willing to buy this product. Because to cultivate and stabilize your market, you need to correctly guide, develop, and adapt to the market, and be aware that consumers' understanding of smoking is also changing and improving.   Wang Yanting also shared his views on the recently signed "Framework Convention on Tobacco Control" in Geneva, stating that this international tobacco control event will have a significant impact on China's tobacco work, especially in terms of reducing tar content in cigarettes and mitigating the adverse effects of smoking on the environment and smokers. To promote the work of reducing tar and harm, Wang Yanting believes that communication and cooperation between the tobacco industry and the health sector should be strengthened, and he proposed that there should be "cooperation between tobacco and medicine, no confrontation, respect for science, respect for reality, focus on health, and innovate work". If we work hard in this way, the impact of tobacco products on consumer health will be reduced, and the pressure on the tobacco industry will be alleviated. 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 Promoting Science and Education in Tobacco 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 Wang Yanting stated that looking back at the history of tobacco development, we can see that every wave of smoking cessation or tobacco control has led to a surge in tobacco technology progress, thereby promoting the development of the tobacco industry. After the first large-scale wave of smoking cessation, filter cigarettes emerged and continued for decades. Now, another wave of tobacco control has arrived, and Wang Yanting believes this is another challenge for tobacco technology development. Low tar and low harm cigarettes should become the direction of cigarette development. Therefore, pressure and competition, development and opportunities coexist, and this opportunity is very real. Scientific and technical personnel need to have this sensitivity, as it creates a space for their work and an opportunity to showcase their talents. This wave of tobacco control will undoubtedly have a positive impact on the product development, raw materials, auxiliary materials, and even the entire technological aspect of the tobacco industry in China.   Wang Yanting introduced that in 2003, the focus of scientific and educational work in the tobacco industry will revolve around the goal of "highlighting the main business, enhancing the core competitiveness of key enterprises, and improving the overall competitiveness of Chinese tobacco". We will adhere to the strategy of "promoting science and education in tobacco", vigorously advance informatization, accelerate the development of e-commerce, use modern technology and management methods to transform industrial enterprises, and achieve optimization and upgrading of the tobacco industry structure; clarify the direction and tasks of scientific and educational work in the development of Chinese tobacco, further promote the work of reducing tar and harm, strive to achieve the goal of reducing tar content to around 12 milligrams by 2005, continuously adapt to market development needs, actively develop low tar and low harm Chinese-style cigarettes, and further promote technological progress to ensure the sustainable, stable, and healthy development of Chinese tobacco.   First, take reducing tar and harm as the main line of scientific and technological work, and further improve the technological innovation capability of the entire industry. For recent tobacco technology work, the National Bureau has determined the work idea of taking reducing tar and harm as the main line. We should be market-oriented, focusing on the development of Chinese-style cigarettes and high-quality tobacco leaves that meet the production needs of cigarettes, fully recognizing the strategic significance of reducing tar and harm for the future survival and development of China's tobacco industry, and further strengthen the research, development, and promotion of Chinese-style cigarettes and tar reduction technologies.   Second, optimize the allocation of tobacco technology resources and establish a sound technological innovation system.   We should aim to optimize the allocation of scientific and technological resources in the tobacco industry, further increase support for research institutions and other scientific research units in terms of policies, funding, and research project arrangements, and further improve the research and development promotion system; strengthen the construction of technology centers in key enterprises, standardize the operation of technology centers, and form a scientific and technological innovation system in the tobacco industry that has clear tasks, reasonable division of labor, and efficient operation.   Third, actively promote the strategy of strengthening the country with talent and establish mechanisms for various talents to stand out. To comprehensively build a moderately prosperous society and improve the overall competitiveness of Chinese tobacco, it is crucial to establish a high-quality talent team. We should actively promote personnel system reform, establish an effective incentive and restraint mechanism that adapts to the market economy, primarily based on material interests, and form a complete set of mechanisms that can effectively attract, retain, and cultivate talents, allowing various talents to stand out.   Fourth, accelerate the pace of scientific research system reform centered on project implementation, and improve the research level of the industry. The project system is a basic management model for current scientific research activities. It has been proven to greatly stimulate the innovative potential of researchers and is successful and effective. The tobacco industry should accelerate the pace of scientific research system reform centered on project implementation, gradually promote the project management model for scientific and technological projects, and establish supporting policies such as a project approval mechanism that combines expert evaluation and government decision-making, a budget management mechanism that adapts to the laws of scientific research activities, and relevant supervision mechanisms.   Fifth, strengthen leadership in tobacco science and technology work to create a favorable environment for scientific work. Strengthening and improving leadership in scientific work is an important guarantee for implementing the "promoting science and education in tobacco" strategy. Leaders at all levels in the tobacco industry must effectively strengthen their leadership and support for tobacco science and technology work, fully recognize the importance and urgency of promoting tobacco innovation from a strategic perspective, and consider relying on technological progress and innovation as key factors for promoting economic and social development. We must prioritize scientific and technological innovation work, providing greater support for scientific work in terms of policies, investment, talent cultivation, and guarantee conditions.   Wang Yanting stated that at this critical time when the Chinese tobacco industry faces development and challenges, we must grasp two points: first, we must seize opportunities and not miss them, relying on technological progress to actively promote the development of Chinese tobacco; second, we must focus on talent cultivation and fully mobilize the enthusiasm of scientific and technical personnel. Maintaining the stable development of the tobacco industry is beneficial for social stability and the vigorous development of the national economy; maintaining the comprehensive improvement of tobacco technology levels is conducive to the rapid and healthy growth of Chinese tobacco. This is an extremely honorable cause, but also a very arduous one, requiring the joint efforts of the entire industry, especially scientific workers, to make the necessary efforts and contributions. Under the correct guidance of the Party Central Committee and the State Council, and with the strong leadership of the State Tobacco Administration, we will work together, unite, and strive to make new contributions to the development of China's tobacco science and technology in the new century and new stage.