Information Industry Minister Wu Jichuan, speaking at the opening session of the first Internet Conference of China, said more digital libraries and digital museums are expected to be built for the Internet, allowing users easy access to Chinese traditional culture, modern technology and foreign cultures.

There are more than 54 million Internet users in China and official statistics show the number of computers connected to the Internet has climbed to about 20.5 million, with officially registered websites hitting about 82,000.

Wu said the recent 16th National Congress of the Communist Party of China has provided a very good opportunity for the development of the Internet.

The Party has advocated the development of the information industry to boost the country's economic development.

The Ministry of Information Industry predicts the sales volume of software and information services in China will total 300 billion yuan (US$36.5 billion) by 2005, with an annual growth rate of over 30 per cent.

But Wu said the development of the Internet in China still encounters problems.

He said Chinese language resources are not meeting the requirements of the Chinese people, the security of the Internet is not satisfactory and Internet-related crimes are increasing.

Therefore, Wu put forward suggestions for the future development of the tool.

According to Wu, the most important of all is that the government should help build a complete Internet sector industry chain, connecting the net-economy closely to traditional industries. Companies should set up effective business models using the Internet.

Wu said while enhancing the public awareness of protecting computers from viruses, the government will frame an efficient and reliable information security system covering the country that is based on the results of local research and development.

Su Jinsheng, director general of the ministry's Telecommunication Administration Bureau, said it will take measures to ensure the security of online transactions, boosting the benefits generated by the Internet.

The ministry will also aid the further expansion of market demands for the Internet and related businesses.

"We should also establish regulations and rules for the Internet and related businesses, ensuring the whole sector develops in a healthy and sustainable way," Wu said.

(China Daily November 26, 2002)