The number of Internet users in China would reach 58 million by the end of 2002, second only to the United States, and paid users have also emerged, said a report released by the China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC) Wednesday.

The report also showed that the number has risen by 28.70 million since last year.

The characteristics of Internet users in China have also changed, according to a report given the Fourth China Information Port Forum which opened Tuesday in this capital of southernmost Hainan province.

Wu Suoning, chief editor of the "People's Posts and Telecommunications" noted that China's Internet users are mainly males, the majority of which are below the age of 35 and unmarried.

Wu also noted that the most obvious change for China's Internet is the emergence of paid users, which indicated that more Chinese Internet users have searched for quality services, including online messaging, games and picture downloading.

A growing number of Chinese are using the Internet to get information, and searching has become a major reason for going online.

Meanwhile, there will be about 655 million Internet users worldwide by the end of the year, according to a report released in November at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.

(Xinhua News Agency December 18, 2002)