In China, morbidity and mortality attributable to cardiovascular disease increased rapidly from the 1950s to the 1980s due to an increased life expectancy and changes in lifestyle. Cardiovascular disease has become the leading cause of death in the country. There is a high incidence of stroke, which is the commonest or second commonest cause of death. Hypertension, the main risk factor for stroke and an important risk factor for coronary heart disease, is the most prevalent cardiovascular disease, and should be given first priority in control programmes. Smoking, a common habit in males, is to be a principal focus of preventive activities over the next few years. Between 1970 and 1990, several community programmes for the prevention and control of cardiovascular diseases were established. The WHO MONICA Project has developed standardized methodologies that are used to establish systems for monitoring and evaluating control programmes. There is an urgent need to develop a long-term national strategy for the management and control of cardiovascular diseases.