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Microsoft founder and philanthropist Bill Gates visited China on Saturday to raise awareness of the dangers of second-hand smoke.

Gates appeared at a news conference in Beijing on Saturday alongside Chinese Internet executive Robin Li and Vice Health Minister Huang Jiefu to encourage non-smokers to stand up for their right to a smoke-free environment.

Smoking is linked to the deaths of at least 1 (m) million people in China every year, making it one of the greatest health threats the country faces, government statistics show.

Nearly 30 percent of adults in China smoke - about 300 (m) million people, a number roughly equal to the entire US population.

The risks of second-hand smoke include increased asthma attacks, ear and respiratory infections, and cancer.