Representatives from 14 well- known Chinese Internet service providers gathered today at the broadcast studio of the Shanghai People's Broadcasting Station to discuss the relationship between the Internet and life with local citizens.

Leading officials from on-line.sh., chinaholiday, sina, chinavista, and other Internet service providers also held simultaneous on-line talks on the topic with Internet users. They answered questions such as, "Can the Internet provide more convenient services in the fields of finance, commerce, tourism and culture?" and "How about the future of the development of e- commerce in China?" as well as other issues concerning economic and social development.

Officials from the Ministry of Information Industry and Shanghai government's information industry and tourism departments also participated in the discussion. They praised the on-air and on-line event as evidence that Shanghai, and even much of China, has begun efforts to publicize the Internet and attract more people into the information-based economy. The discussion will continue for four days.