Official Calls for IT Industry Exchange

China will benefit from the on-line trend as officials say they are ready to strengthen information technology co-operation and exchange with Asia-Pacific countries.

Vice-Minister of the Information Industry Lu Xinkui said co-operation will help Chinese people keep abreast of information development and contribute to a better standard of living in the future.

Lu said full-fledged co-operation should be committed to in different city levels and a unified approach should be built among large, medium and small cities in the region.

Co-operational activities should occur on a regular basis, he said.

China's information technology (IT) development has gained momentum recently, especially in the last three years.

Chinese Internet users, already the world's fourth largest on-line population, has exceeded 10 million. BDA, a Beijing-based Internet consulting business, predicted that China will outpower the United States to have the world's top Internet community in five years.

Meanwhile, e-business is emerging on the horizon.

Websites are increasing by an average of two new business start-ups each day and on-line shopping, on-line ticket reservation and cyber chat has gradually grown popular in larger cities, led by Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou.

Residents in big cities have wide access to on-line community services.

However, problems remain.

Lu said e-business is just in its infant stage in China, and Internet-related technology, on-line business securities and certifications need time to improve.

Regulations guarding Internet development should be drafted, he said.

But old habits die hard.

"Chinese people are still used to shopping in supermarkets or retail shops and it is hard to change the habit overnight. It is a work in progress," he said.

Lu said Chinese people should be taught to adjust to new technology.

"Various means and methods should be taken full advantage of, such as school education, on-the-job training and other publicity efforts," he said.



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