China to boost new media development

BEIJING - China has vowed to develop its new media during the coming five years, aiming to forge major international website brands, according to a government document publicized Wednesday.

Issued by the general offices of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council, the Outline for the 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-2015) on Cultural Reform and Development stressed promoting development of cultural industries and increasing the country's influence in the area.

State-owned operations will be encouraged to enter new media, the outline said, urging efforts for sharpening the country's key news websites as well as forming a series of comprehensive web portals with influence domestically and overseas.

The role of the country's for-profit websites will also be tapped in a bid to cultivate backbone players in online content production and services, according to the outline.

The outline said the Chinese government will offer more guidance to those working with the Internet, and will introduce initiatives to promote great contemporary culture works on the web.

Aiming to cultivate a civilized online environment, China will step up regulation of social-networking sites and instant messenger services, and also strengthen its crackdown on online distribution of lewd and vulgar content.

Meanwhile, increasing attention will be placed upon protecting private information on the Internet and improving the country's system to assess online security, according to the outline.