Internet growth to aid poverty reduction

China's internet watchdog issued a guideline on Wednesday for IT development over the next decade, and set poverty reduction as one of its key goals.

"China has the largest number of internet users in the world, and there are huge untapped opportunities in the industry," said Xu Yu, an official with the Office of the Central Leading Group for Cyberspace. "It should play a greater role in poverty alleviation and economic development."

Zhang Feng, chief engineer of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, said that China would take more measures to boost infrastructure to ensure that by the end of 2020 all residents in rural areas will be able to get an internet fiber connection at home and are able to enjoy the economic opportunities brought by the IT industry.