Xi stresses enhanced Internet development for people, country

The people of China should be provided with information services that are accessible, affordable and of a high standard, President Xi Jinping has said.

Xi made the remarks at a symposium on cyber security and informatization on April 19, at which he called for officials' frequent use of Internet to learn about public opinions and enhanced cyber security. The full text of his speech was made public on Monday.

China, although a latecomer to the Internet, has made remarkable achievements in the development of Internet networks and services, Xi said, adding that 700 million Chinese netizens use the Internet to study, work, and access public services.

The president said the development of the Internet in China should meet the people's expectations and demands. He called for more investment in Internet infrastructure, especially in rural areas, and said online tools and services should be used to support poverty alleviation campaigns.

"More people in poverty should have access to the Internet. They can use it to sell their agricultural products and their children can receive a high-quality education," Xi said.

Moreover, the Internet should serve as a new growth driver for the Chinese economy, said Xi.

The "Internet Plus" strategy has boosted innovation and entrepreneurship in China, and the information economy accounts for an increasingly larger share of China's GDP.

"In the process of informatization, no progress, or even slower progress, means regression. China must improve its information infrastructure and the integration of information resources," Xi said. Endi