Internet users in China topped over 250 million in late June of this year.

China now has surpassed the United States with the largest number of Internet users from across the globe. However, China's Internet penetration rate stays just around 19 percent, below the international average of 21 percent.

Beijing Youth Daily carries an article saying that the Internet has played an increasingly important role in Chinese people's daily lives. Citizens are not only resorting to the Internet for information and entertainment, but also to participate in the discussion and management of state affairs.

Meanwhile, the Beijing News also carries a commentary arguing that more efforts are needed to improve the Internet penetration rate in China. More than 80 percent of Chinese people still have no access to the Internet, either because of economic barriers or a lack of relevant knowledge.

The commentary also urges the government to take measures to lower Internet fees. It quoted World Bank figures as saying that China's Internet using fees add up to about ten percent of the public's income, compared to about one percent in the United States, and eight percent on average in other Asian countries.