China has ordered its 1,000-oddpublicly listed firms to disclose their annual and interim reports as well as other important information on the Internet.

All such information vital to investors according to law shall be carried on the website of the Shanghai Stock Exchange , the website of the Shenzhen Stock Exchange, and that of the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC), according to sources with the oversight department.

This move will provide another way for investors to access information about these companies, since many of them are already accustomed to scanning the Internet for information, the sources said.

It will also serve to promote the development of on-line stock trading in China, the sources added.

The latest statistics show that China now has nearly nine million Internet users, and regulations on on-line trading are expected to be promulgated soon.