China will start soon a nationwide crackdown on illegal or unauthorized websites, in a bid to create a clean information environment for the healthy growth of youngsters, according to the Ministry of Information Industry Thursday.

The ministry will cut off the connection of illegal websites to servers, strengthen management on information at on-line BBS and chatting rooms, and set up a database for IP addresses in the clean-up campaign, said Minister Wang Xudong.

"In order to block charging channels of illegal websites, the ministry will also check and standardize fee collection of some telecommunication companies, who take in payment of unhealthy information for these websites," Wang said.

Telecommunication companies are also encouraged to support family users with technologies to filter out harmful information and with services to guarantee clean online environment.

Wang acknowledged that the Internet, as an outcome of the modern information and technological development, has played an active role in promoting China's economic growth, social progress and enhancement of people's living standards.

"But slack management has led to rampant spread of violent and pornographic information in the Internet, which can easily poison minors' mental health," he said.

He noted that the ministry is developing related software to direct the online game industry to a sound and positive growth, hoping to provide youngsters a colorful and healthy online environment for amusement and relax.

(Xinhua News Agency June 11, 2004)