China is making efforts to familiarize the public with Internet-related knowledge and technology to close its digital gap with developed countries.

As a concrete step, the Internet Society of China (ISC) set up in Beijing on Thursday a working committee to popularize the Internet, with members coming from various sectors including the government, Internet industry, telecommunications, scientific research institutions, the media and publishing. Committee members will spread Internet information in their respective fields.

They will also convey the latest developments in Internet information and technology to the public through various channels,and offer training and consultation services.

Statistics show that there are currently more than 400 million Internet users in the world including 36 million in China.

The committee says it will soon set up an "Internet goes west" program, with familiarization projects in some middle and primary schools in the western region, to help boost its Internet knowledge and bridge the digital gap between China's west and east.

(People's Daily May 31, 2002)