About 36 major Chinese websites and websites of mass media organizations issued a joint statement on December 30 calling for intensive cooperation to promote the healthy development of the web-based information service industry.

The statement was announced at a meeting held in Beijing today which focused on the development of China's Internet industry. Representatives from the websites of Xinhua News Agency, the China News Agency, China Central TV, the China International Radio Station, China Daily and websites such as Sina.com, Sohu.com and Netease.com attended the meeting.

Both the websites and the news agencies and newspapers noted the important role played by the web-based information service industry in modern society, and reiterated the principle of "self- discipline" among the websites operators needed to create a positive social environment.

These website operators and the mass media websites will meet two times a year to discuss problems related to the development of China's web-based information service industry.