OPINION> Commentary
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OPINION> Commentary
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Net support to nation's goals
(China Daily)
Updated: 2008-06-27 07:39 We should make use of the Internet for boosting the development of China, says an article in People's Daily. The following is an excerpt: Last Friday, President Hu Jintao chatted online with netizens in the website of People's Daily, thereby turning a new page in the history of China's Internet. As some netizens said, "The few minutes' chat (with President Hu) is of great significance". The chat has lingered in the minds of Chinese netizens and it is the most heartening moment since Internet was introduced in China in 1994. It reminds us of the extraordinary path Internet has taken in China. In the past 10-plus years, China, as a new-comer in the information age, has made great strides in adopting this new technology and has spread it across the whole country. China has risen to the world's No 1 position with the largest number of Internet users - 230 million. Internet has been transformed from an entertainment-oriented tool in the past into a sphere where public opinion can be quickly voiced and spread now. Currently, China boasts 1.3 million BBSs, ranking first in the world. The prosperity of the website has a wide range of influences on social life. We are glad to see this progress of the Net - from a new invention of the information age to a platform to discuss political affairs. In 2003 when SARS plagued China, President Hu replied to a netizen: "Your advice is very good, and I have already read it online". This reply by President Hu expressed the determination of the central government to address the opinions of the netizens and also made millions of netizens confident about participating in national political affairs via Internet. President Hu is himself a "netizen". He will "manage to find time to surf Internet" and "carefully read and study" articles posted by netizens and deems Internet an important way of "understanding public feelings and drawing on public wisdom". It shows the foresight of the central government in developing Internet scientifically and democratically. The booming public opinion on Internet and the thoughts of the decision-makers have been in harmony, which makes Internet a constructive force in pushing forward China's society and civilization. In recent times, the power of Internet has fully shown itself in China during major events such as the snowstorm-caused disaster, the Olympic torch relay and the fight against the quake. As of June 10, top eight portal websites in China attracted more than 50 billion hits for their quake and anti-quake news stories and 36.5 million comments. The direct talks between President Hu and netizens show us the strong sense of responsibility of our leaders. It also sends a signal to officials at different levels that we should firmly grasp this opportunity of the new information era to strengthen China with the power of Internet. (China Daily 06/27/2008 page8) |
