Chinese President Hu Jintao on Tuesday called on government
officials to promote and better regulate rapidly developing
Internet services in China.
Hu made the call at a study session of the Political Bureau of
the Central Committee of Communist Party of China (CPC), saying
officials should "actively and creatively nurture a healthy online
culture" that meets public demand.
The rapid development of the Internet in China has played an
important role in spreading information, knowledge, and CPC's
policies, and it has also raised new issues for the country's
cultural development, Hu said.
"Whether we can cope with the Internet is a matter that affects
the development of socialist culture, the security of information,
and the stability of the state," Hu said, asking officials to use
the Internet as a platform to spread healthy information.
Officials at all levels should facilitate the development of the
Internet while improving the administration of web technologies,
content and network security, said Hu.
Hu asked officials to become more knowledgeable and to improve
their ability to administer the Internet.
Hu said the government should use advanced technologies to
better guide public opinions voiced through the Internet.
"We should spread more information that is in good taste, and
promote online products that can represent the grand Chinese
culture," Hu said.
He told officials to provide conditions for developing websites
that carry "excellent content" and improve the delivery of
information.
China's Internet population jumped by almost 24 percent last
year to reach 137 million, according to the China Internet Network
Information Center.
Nearly one in 10 Chinese have Internet access and many regularly
go online to read news, chat with friends, shop, and engage in
debates.
Last year, Chinese Internet users spent a monthly average of 170
yuan (US$21.79) online, including the costs of Internet access,
on-line shopping and games, compared with 150 yuan in 2005. The
on-line consumer market expanded by 47 percent over the previous
year, according to the China Internet Survey Report 2007 released
this month.
The report also showed the number of Chinese bloggers reached
20.8 million at the end of last year, of whom 3.15 million are
active authors.
The rising number of bloggers also caused problems and disputes.
In 2006, blog piracy, infringement and "irresponsible" publications
prompted the government to commission a study on the implementation
of real-name blogs.
China Internet Association Councillor Hu Qiheng said the
government was considering new ways to supervise blogs, requiring
bloggers to identify themselves when they register, even if they
write under a pseudonym.
The Ministry of Culture in December ordered all music
distributors to register and apply for approval from cultural
authorities to distribute imported music products on the
Internet.
It also required online music based on music products copied or
composed by netizens for non-profit purposes to be monitored more
closely, saying some products had poor quality, or content that
abused ethnic traditions or affected social stability.
(Xinhua News Agency January 25, 2007)