Although the Chinese Government has been cracking down on Internet-based dissent, it is encouraging its government departments to get online.
Xinhua, China’s official news service, reported that the Central Government has launched its “Government on the Internet” project, which is aimed at increasing government use of the Internet as a means of disseminating information.
An official said that more than 60 percent of government departments are expected to be online by the end of the year and 80 percent by the end of next year.
China Telecom’s Data Communication Bureau and the Economic Information Center of the State Economic and Trade Commission will jointly manage the project, and Xinhua will assist in organizing and providing information for the Web sites.
Some of the government organizations currently on the Web include the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation, the State Science and Technology Commission, the Xinhua News Agency and many publications.