Thursday is the International Anti-drug Day. A top Chinese anti-drug official said that the country has basically eliminated opium planting and heroin processing.

A commentary on the English newspaper China Daily applauded the nation's successive efforts in the fight against drug planting and processing, but it also pointed out that the fight must go on as drug trading remains an active virus in the country.

The paper warned that the nearly 1 million drug addicts in China pose a big challenge to the country's fight against drug abuses and trafficking. Besides traditional drugs such as opium, heroin and marijuana, some new drugs are spreading among young people. The threat also includes illicit drug-making and trafficking in some parts of the country.

The daily noted that China has launched a number of pilot projects aimed at spreading information on drug abuse and messages on their prevention to high-risk target groups.

Legislation work has also been carried out, as the first anti-drug law went into effect at the beginning of June.

Moreover, the paper stressed that international cooperation is needed in combating drug trade. The fight against drug-related crimes at home will remain nothing more than a passive defense if we cannot touch the origin of drugs abroad.