More healthy and useful content should be developed and put on the internet to foster a healthy growth environment for youngsters, said senior leader Li Changchun on Thursday.

"Efforts should be made to actively promote dissemination of our fine national culture to lift the quality and level of internet content," said Li, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, during his visit to the Fourth China International Digital Content Expo.

He called for improvements to internet content, calling it both an important part of fostering a harmonious culture and society and a way of ensuring progress in the cultural industry.

 
China had 123 million internet users from of June, including 77 million with broadband access. The government has stepped up efforts to curb the Internet's negative influences.

The exposition, which opened in the Beijing Exhibition Center on Thursday, has drawn more than 80 Internet content developers from around the world.

A series of forums will be held during the exhibition on methods to foster a healthy internet culture and on the future development of China's internet cafes.

Liu Yunshan, head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, and State councilor Chen Zhili accompanied Li to the exhibition.

(Xinhua News Agency October 27, 2006)