BEIJING, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- China plans to enhance its monitoring network for drugs and promote international cooperation to stamp out drug trafficking with the country's first bill on drug control.

    Opium, heroin, marijuana, "the ice" -- methamphetamine hydrochloride, morphine, and cocaine are spelled out as banned drugs.

    The bill introduced in the legislature on Tuesday sets strict rules on on the clinical use of pharmaceuticals and other chemicals and medicines that could be used to make illegal narcotics, such as methadone and ephedrine.

    Regular checks will be required during the production, sale and use of sensitive clinical medicines. The bill stipulates that farms that grow medicines and warehouses that store them will be under state guard.

    The bill requires the owners and managers of discos, bars, and night clubs, to post anti-drug signs in prominent places inside the venues and to report drug takers to the police.

    It will also authorize police to search people and their luggage for illegal drugs at key public places such as train stations, long-distance bus stations and border crossings.

    "It is important to introduce such a law as China is now facing a grave situation in drug control," Zhang Xinfeng, Vice Minister of Public Security, said in a brief to lawmakers of the Standing Committee of National People's Congress.

    China was experiencing an increase in drug trafficking from the Golden Triangle, an area located in countries along the Mekong Rive delta including Myanmar and Laos, and the Golden Crescent area in western Asia.

    Five of China's six provincial areas troubled most by drug-related problems were in western China and were adjacent to the two notorious narcotics producing regions.

    Almost all of the heroin traded illegally across the world came from the two regions, Zhang said, adding that drugs from the Golden Triangle are "pouring" into China, posing a great threat to the country's drug control efforts.

    Police estimated that China had more than 700,000 heroin addicts. The number of drug takers grew 35 percent in the five years since 2000 to hit 1.16 million in early 2005, according to police data.

    "It's impossible to fight the drug problems without international cooperation," Zhang said, noting the bill stipulated that Chinese police should share information with other countries and international organizations and enhance collaboration in investigations.

    Under the stipulation of the bill, China would share the seizures and the revenues from drug crimes with other countries and regions in operations outside its border.

    And Chinese authorities would be required by the law to support and assist in other countries' opium replacement crop planting.

    In fact, China has launched opium replacement planting scheme with Myanmar and Laos and other neighboring countries. Rubber, teaand other crops were grown as substitutes.

    Earlier this year, China and Myanmar confirmed after investigation that Wa State of Myanmar has already realized its goal of banning poppy production. Enditem