April 1, 2004
According to a report written by the China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC) and issued by the State Council, China had roughly 600,000 approved web sites by the end of 2003, representing a 60.3% increase over the previous year.
However, the report notes significant regional disparities in web site development. The comparatively prosperous areas of Beijing, Shanghai, Zhejiang and Guangdong provinces account for more than half of the national total, while less economically developed areas, particularly in the interior, lag far behind.
For a press release summarizing the report in Chinese, click here.
