China's e-commerce surges in H1

BEIJING -- China's e-commerce sector raked in 4.98 trillion yuan ($807 billion) in revenue in the first half of this year, up 45.3 percent year-on-year, official data showed Tuesday.

Rapid Internet development boosted e-commerce and information consumption in China, home to the world's largest number of Internet users. Shang Bing, vice minister of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), said information consumption has become a new engine driving economic invigoration and boosting domestic demand.

In the first six months, consumption of information products and services jumped 20.7 percent year-on-year to 2.07 trillion yuan. The output of smartphones surged 120 percent to 214 million units.

At the opening ceremony of the China 2013 Internet Conference, Shang said the country still needs to improve its broadband facilities and services and step up Internet innovation.

With Internet-related crimes becoming more frequent, it is imperative that the entire industry take a stand against cyber attacks, information theft, online rumors and other illegal activities.

The MIIT will continue to improve information infrastructure and enhance legal and administrative efforts to safeguard online security, he noted.