Projects like the China
Development Gateway (chinagate.com.cn) inaugurated today by the
World Bank and the China Internet Information Center will help
narrow the digital divide and increase cooperation between
developing countries, according to Xiang Huaicheng, Minister of
Finance.
"The development of the information industry itself is not the root
cause of digital divide. Once mastered and enjoyed by millions of
ordinary people, the information industry will become a powerful
means to promote joint development," Xiang said.
Xiang made his comments as he signed with World Bank President
James D. Wolfensohn the Memorandum of Understanding on China's
Joining the Development Gateway Foundation at the Press Hall of the
State Council Information Office on May 28. Based on the
memorandum, China will contribute funds and materials worth US$5
million to the World Bank's Development Gateway Foundation, started
two years ago with the aim of establishing an information network
covering every developing country in the world.
"We believe that the establishment of the Development Gateway
portal is beneficial both to the promotion of information exchanges
and mutual understanding and to the cooperation and joint
development of all countries. The opening of China Development
Gateway will be doubtlessly conducive to China's sharing
development experiences with other countries," Xiang said.
Xiang noted that in a knowledge-based economy -- with information
becoming an important element of production and an economic
resource -- global informatization represented by Internet has
become a double-edged sword: On the one hand, it has promoted the
advancement and development of mankind; on the other hand, the
"digital divide" -- a result of the disparity in the development of
science and technology and information between countries -- has
intensified imbalance in global economic development.
"To solve this problem, various countries should adopt a policy for
developing their information industry in light of their own
realities, and meanwhile, they should strengthen cooperation. An
integral part of the development aid is to support the application
of information technology in developing countries," Xiang said.
Both the Chinese people and the government have been trying
vigorously to use information technology to promote economic
development and social advances by means of Internet, Xiang said,
emphasizing Chinese government's firm support for international
cooperation and development aid in the field of information.
"The opening of China Development Gateway will doubtlessly be
conducive to China's sharing development experiences with other
countries," Xiang said.
(china.org.cn May 28, 2002)