Former US President Bill Clinton on Saturday said the Internet economy might lead mankind to a better future while delivering a keynote speech at the China Internet Summit held in Hangzhou, capital of east China's Zhejiang Province.

In his speech, Clinton said that via the use of the Internet, the mankind could accelerate the transition of ways to utilize energy, make economy develop in a balanced way so that human beings and the nature can coexist in a harmonious way.

"You can never imagine the Internet companies waste 60 percent of the resources, but in many power plants, 60 percent of the energy is wasted," said Clinton.

He went on to say that the Internet companies could help people find substitute energy, develop energy-efficient technologies and create a hygienic future.

Clinton was a devoted supporter and promoter during his tenure of presidency for the so-called "information superhighways" that would connect all areas to state-of-the-art communications systems.

One of Clinton's main work in his retirement is to build a fund in support of AIDS and malaria prevention and control. He said he got information about AIDS and malaria situation in the world from the Internet, including a large amount of information publicized by the Chinese government.

"The Internet is an inherently cooperative instrument and an inherently shared technology," Clinton said. "The Internet has the potential to put power through information and communication in the hands of ordinary people."

Clinton also trumpeted the significance of expanding e-commerce, saying it can work for better efficiency, enlarge the structure of economy, because via the Internet one can secure more business opportunities.

Initiated by Alibaba.com, one of China's key e-commerce companies, the summit has been held annually, except for last year, since 2000.

Before arriving in Hangzhou on Friday evening, Clinton also toured several other regions on the Chinese mainland, including the provinces of Henan and Yunnan, and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in northwest China.

(Xinhua News Agency September 11, 2005)