Ｔｈｅ Ｓｔｒｅｎｇｔｈ ｏｆ ｔｈｅ Ｉｎｔｅｒｎｅｔ

In the 15 years since China joined the Internet in 1994 the number of Chinese net users has soared to 300 million, laying the ground for an information era in a nation that has barely accomplished industrialization. Ms. Hu Qiheng, chairman of the Internet Society of China (ISC) and former deputy president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, was the chief representative of China in its negotiations with the U.S. regarding connection to the Internet. In her opinion Chinas development and growing involvement in the world have proceeded in conjunction with the proliferation of Internet use. The Internet has stimulated technical progress and productive forces, changed the way in which information is spread, and consequently had a far-reaching impact on Chinese society and peoples lives. Now the Internet is a popular channel for the public to voice their opinions and display their strength, giving rank and file citizens some access to top officials. Earlier this year Premier Wen Jiabao jumped on the online chatting bandwagon, taking questions from individual citizens. During the annual NPC (National Peoples Congress) and CPPCC (Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference) sessions deputies brought many hot topics from cyber space into their discussions. It is no exaggeration to say the Internet is now helping to shape every aspect of China.