Guide to the Information Industry in China

Citation

Jianzhong, W. (1998), "Guide to the Information Industry in China", Asian Libraries, Vol. 7 No. 6, pp. 143-144. https://doi.org/10.1108/al.1998.7.6.143.7

Since the mid‐1980s China has made remarkable gains in its economic strength, and the average growth rate of the country’s GDP has been around 10 per cent over the last ten years. In order to keep up with the latest technology China has laid much stress on developing its information industry in this period. The book shows a general picture of the country’s recent development in the fields of information industry and information services. It covers the following areas: the background, current situation, managerial organisations and managerial system of China’s information industry; relevant policies and regulations; major information and consultancy services available (including those affiliated with the central government as well as those located in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou); the development and future of information technology in China.

As its title suggests, the book is a guide for those interested in the development of China’s information industry. Because of the geographic distances and language problems, China by and large remains unfamiliar to Western information professionals. Therefore, this compendium is a most welcome and thorough survey that is badly needed. It gives readers a clear introduction to the field: from the early development of an indigenous information industry to the formation of China’s National Information Infrastructure (CNII) and from administrative structures to policies and regulations. It also gives readers some practical information, including a list of major information service institutions and consultancy service institutions in the country’s three main cities: Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. Unfortunately, in the last two years all the telephone numbers of the three cities have been changed to eight digits, and over half of these institutions can be contacted by e‐mail.

Other information in the book is also rather dated. For instance, the Joint Conference on the National Economic Development of Information Technology, set up in 1993 with its office at the Ministry of Electronic Industry, was reorganised and upgraded to the State Council Information Work Leading Group in 1996. In April 1997 the National Information Work Conference was held in Shenzhen, with 170 members, including 48 ministerial level leaders, participating. The significance of this meeting is the report of The Ninth Five‐Year Plan and the Long‐Term Plan to the Year 2010 on Information Work of China, both offering guidelines on tasks and targets for China’s national information infrastructure in the coming years.

These shortcomings notwithstanding, this is a very useful collection for anyone who wishes to have a clear introduction to China’s information industry, and where it is likely to be going in the next few years.