The Fifth China Internet Conference and Exhibition will be held from July 10 to 12 in Beijing, an event aimed at promoting exchange and cooperation between China and international institutions, and well-known telecom and information technology companies.

Besides seminars on the prospects of China's Internet development, the event will highlight the latest Internet technologies, products and services.

The event is jointly sponsored by the Ministry of Information Industry and the China Association of Science and Technology. Relevant international organizations and institutions, such as Internet Society, Internet Engineering Task Force, Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers and International Telecommunication Union, will participate.

The Internet has been developing in China by leaps and bounds since the early 1990s. The number of Internet users had exceeded 20 million by the end of 2000, and is expected to surpass 100 million by early 2003.