China boasts the most netizens in the world, around 253 million by June 2008. In 2007 netizens in rural areas increased by almost 130 percent, accounting for 40 percent of all newcomers, according to statistics released at the 2008 Internet Conference, which kicked off Tuesday in Nanjing, capital of eastern China's Jiangsu Province.

More and more Chinese farmers are turning to the internet to look for information on growing and sales as well as to release business information. Projects for ensuring internet access in every town in China, and the marketing strategies of the IT operators, have stimulated internet growth in the countryside.

The informatization of rural areas has been improved in recent years, but there is still a disparity between city and countryside. Internet use in cities is still four times higher than among rural residents.

Government departments should make more of an effort to improve the application of information technology in rural areas, said Xi Guohua, vice minister of Industry and Information Technology at the Internet Conference. Xi also highlighted policies favorable to farmers to guarantee that they can take full advantage of information technology services.

IT operators should improve their services for user-friendly operation, and governments should work out supporting policies and earmark more funds to develop the application of information technology in rural areas, said Xi.

(China.org.cn by Yang Xi, September 24, 2008)