Alan Zhao, 2Firsts: The Global Tobacco Harm Reduction Community Urgently Needs to “Emancipate the Mind and Seek Truth from Facts”

Jun.30

Alan Zhao, CEO of 2Firsts, calls on the global tobacco harm reduction community to “emancipate the mind and seek truth from facts,” rebuild scientific consensus, and drive high-quality development.

This article reflects the views of the author only.

In mid-June, the Global Forum on Nicotine (GFN) took place in Warsaw. As one of the most prominent platforms for dialogue on tobacco harm reduction (THR), this year’s event gathered scientists, researchers, media representatives, and senior executives from around the world to discuss and explore major challenges and opportunities in THR.

For the third consecutive year, 2Firsts served as a media partner of GFN, conducting pre-event interviews and on-site reporting. We published several key interviews and feature articles (see links below).

Just a month earlier, ahead of World No Tobacco Day, 2Firsts interviewed several global tobacco control experts, including Dr. Derek Yach, former Executive Director of the WHO, and Mr. Samrat Chowdhery, Director of the Association of Vapers India. They shared perspectives on global tobacco control trends as well as country-specific case studies on harm reduction.

Looking back on these interviews and reports, I found that these experts, despite coming from different regions and backgrounds, all expressed a common concern: a widening gap in the global understanding of tobacco harm reduction. Among scientists, industry leaders, policymakers, and tobacco control advocates, the divisions over how to address tobacco use and seize the opportunities and challenges of harm reduction have never been so stark.

I also recalled that just a few months ago, a health official from a Southeast Asian country publicly claimed that there was no evidence proving e-cigarettes are less harmful than traditional tobacco products, even suggesting that e-cigarettes might be more harmful than cigarettes.

How can such profound differences in perception exist on an issue that affects the lives and health of tens of millions of people worldwide? I don’t have a definitive answer. However, after listening to many experts, I am more convinced than ever that global tobacco control and harm reduction efforts require a deep transformation of thinking.

A famous Chinese statesman once put forward the principle of “emancipating the mind and seeking truth from facts,” which directly inspired China’s historic reform and opening-up that began in the late 1970s.

Today, the global THR community—across science, industry, and policy—needs to rebuild a cooperative framework based on scientific consensus, uphold long-term thinking, and redefine harm reduction concepts and strategies. We must also fully embrace the possibilities offered by new technologies in reducing harm.

In this process, 2Firsts, as an industry-focused media platform, has an increasingly clear mission and value: to serve as a bridge connecting science, industry, regulators, and society; to promote the broad dissemination of facts and ideas; and to help drive the high-quality development of global tobacco harm reduction efforts.

Alan Zhao

Co-founder & CEO, 2Firsts

2Firsts Global Nicotine Forum 2025 Coverage Series

1.2FIRSTS | GFN Experts Warn: Misinformation is Killing Smokers

2.2FIRSTS | Tobacco Giants Speak on THR at GFN: Calling for Regulatory Reform Aligned with Scientific Understanding

3. 2FIRSTS | Dialogue Over Dogma: GFN Co-founder Paddy Costall Lauds Diversity of Voices at 2025 Event

4.2Firsts Talks with Nancy Loucas, Asia-Pacific THR Leader: Giving a Voice to the Overlooked Consumer

5.2Firsts Interviews Harm Reduction Policy Expert Jeannie Cameron: WHO’s Rejection of Harm Reduction Is Undermining Global Tobacco Control

2Firsts World No Tobacco Day 2025 Series

1.World No Tobacco Day 2025: Former WHO Executive Director Dr. Derek Yach Calls for Embracing Harm Reduction — A 2Firsts Exclusive

2.2FIRSTS | World No Tobacco Day 2025: Former WHO Executive Director Dr. Derek Yach Calls for Embracing Harm Reduction — A 2Firsts Exclusive

3.India’s Vape Ban: A Case Study in Unintended Consequences | By Association of Vapers India Director for 2Firsts

4.2FIRSTS | Indian Tobacco Control Expert Contributes to 2Firsts: Understanding India’s Smokeless Landscape

5.Five Key Takeaways from the E-Cigarette Regulatory Press Conference: Stricter Oversight, Production Control, and Crackdown on Grey Market — In-Depth Analysis by 2Firsts’ Alan Zhao on Policy Logic and Industry Impact

Welcome to submit articles, contact for interviews, or provide comments to 2Firsts. Please contact: info@2firsts.com, or connect with 2Firsts CEO Alan Zhao on LinkedIn.

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