BEIJING, Nov. 26 (Xinhuanet) -- Approved by cultural authorities, an IT company opened the first chain Internet cafe in Beijing days ago.

    The Asia United Telecom and Network Co., Ltd. said it is able to ensure the safe and reliable operation of chain cafes.

    In the past, a list of disasters had forced the government to close thousands of Internet cafes nationwide. Last year, a blaze in an illegal Beijing Internet cafe claimed 25 lives.

    The government has since cracked down on illegal Internet cafes and urged the industry to promote reliable chain services.

    In June, China gave licenses to 10 Internet cafe operators, allowing them to run nationwide chains, which was intended to raise the threshold for operators and to stop them from accepting applications from small operators, which were believed to give minors accession to pornography and violent sites.

    "The chain cafes will play a useful role in helping youth learn and relax," said a company official, stressing safety and reliability.

    The company will gradually open chain cafes in other provinces, he said.

    The US information technology company International Business Machine on Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding with the company to tap the potential for Internet cafes in China. Enditem