China's first news cartoon website was launched yesterday as a breakthrough in the nation's cartoon circle.

The site www.newscartoon.com.cn was launched by www.chinadaily.com.cn, one of the country's major news portals, and the China Journalistic Caricature Society, showcasing up-to-the-minute cartoons.

More than 80 Chinese cartoonists, including Hua Junwu and Ding Cong, braved the boiling heat in Beijing to attend the launching of the site at the China Daily building yesterday morning.

Zhu Yinghuang, editor-in-chief of China Daily, Liu Zhengrong, deputy director of the State Council's Information Office's Internet Bureau, and Sun Yizeng, president of the China Journalistic Caricature Society, delivered speeches.

Distinct from other cartoon websites, it provides a platform for users to select and download any cartoons they like.

(China Daily 07/19/2001)