In recent years, the sale of computers in China increased rapidly. In 1997, PC sales stood at 3.4 million; in 1998, it was 4.7 million, with the PC made in China taking up most of the market. It is estimated that by 1999 sales will reach 6 million, and by 2000 it will be 10 million. By the 21st century, the Chinese computer market is expected to exceed that of Japan.

China has built up a telecommunications net centered around optical cable lines and accompanied by multiple means of communications networks such as microwave, satellite, telephone, mobile phone, digital communications, and multi-media communications etc. These networks cover cities and towns all over the country.

The optical cable trunk line reaches all provincial capitals and 70 percent of China's big cities. The capacity of the telephone switchboards is over 200 million. And the capacity of the switchboard for mobile phones reaches 60 million users. The digital data communications network reaches 90 percent of the cities and counties throughout the country, and the public computer network covers most major cities and districts -- especially those of the most economically developed counties. Approximately 13percent of households throughout China have telephone access, with urban penetration running at over 40 percent.

China first linked up to the Internet in 1994, and since then it has developed rapidly. Presently, four large networks exist in China: the Chinese Science and Technology Net (CSTNET), the Public Computer Network (CHINANET), the Chinese Education and Research Net (CERNET) and the China Gold Bridge Net (CHINAGBN). In conjunction with this, the number of users likewise increased in number, to over 3 million people. It is estimated that by the end of the year 2000 thi s will more than triple to 10 million users.

Among those using the Internet, 79.2 percent are young people aged from 21 to 35. As for the kind of information culled by users, 67.2 percent is in the area of scientific information; 63.3 percent use the Internet to get information on entertainment and sports; 45.1 percent for economic and political news; 43.7 percent commercial information and consultation; and only 26.1 percent for financial and stock information.