China-based blogs total 107 million, with more than 42 percent of netizens running a blog, a senior information official said in Shanghai on Friday.

Cai Mingzhao, deputy director of the State Council Information Office, made the comment at the 2nd U.S.-China Internet Industry Forum.

The number of blogs was about 40 million just a year ago.

Cai noted Web 2.0 service, which makes writing and other sorts of participation of Internet users possible, has inspired many people to create content online.

There were 253 million people online in China as of June, up 56.2 percent year-on-year. E-commerce transactions amounted to 2 trillion yuan (about US$300 billion) in 2007, and 25 percent of netizens had bought something online as of June this year.

"China has the world's largest online population and I believe the number is showing continuous growth," said Hu Qiheng, director of the Internet Society of China.

Hu said online music and news are the most popular types of web content in China, and instant communication services, video streaming, search engines and online games also ranked high on the popularity list.

"The Internet is a strong driver of the reform and opening-up process of China and a new engine of the development of China's economy and society," said Cai.

(Xinhua News Agency November 8, 2008)