"Tobacco is a threat to our children, teenagers, and nation," Panigoro remarked at the opening of the 12th APACT in Nusa Dua, Bali, Wednesday.
Panigoro stated that several countries in the world had applied strict tobacco control rules to protect children and adolescents as the future of the nation.
Hence, tobacco control activists from 29 Asia-Pacific countries are in Nusa Dua to attend the 12th APACT to do more to protect children and adolescents from the threat of the tobacco epidemic.
"People from 29 countries are present, not just to discuss but to also act," Panigoro noted.
According to Panigoro, civil society and the governments of countries of the world must act to control tobacco to encourage the ban on advertising, promotion and sponsorship of cigarettes, and the imposition of high taxes on tobacco, among others.
"In Indonesia, the price of cigarettes is a quarter of the price in Malaysia," he pointed out.
APACT was first held in Taipei, Taiwan, in 1989. The last meeting was held in Beijing, China, in 2016.
The 12th APACT was held in Nusa Dua, Bali, and chaired by Panigoro. The host in Indonesia is the National Tobacco Control Committee along with several other tobacco control support organizations.
Reporting by Dewanto Samodro
Editing by Andi Abdussalam
Reporter: Dewanto Samodro
Editor: Bustanuddin
Copyright © ANTARA 2018
