BEIJING, March 31 (Xinhuanet) -- Online signatures will become valid in China as of April 1 to facilitate the country's growing on-line trading, an official of the Ministry of Information Industry (MII) on Thursday.

    The law grants electronic signatures the same legal effect as handwritten signatures and seals for business transactions, acknowledged the official. It establishes a market access system for online certification providers to ensure the security of e-commerce.

    While giving due consideration to current electronic certification services that are still in a startup period, the law stipulates that governmental departments shall undertake "effective and appropriate" supervision and management over the electronic certification service organs in market access.

    The Administration Rules on Online Certification Service goes into effect on the same day to support the implementation of the law.

    The rules cover mainly the issuance and management of licenses for online certification service, standardization of service behavior, handling of suspension or alteration of the service, pattern and security measures of online signature certification, supervision and management and penalties for illegal activities inthe field.

    "The rules will help promote a smooth implementation of the electronic signature law, providing concrete contents on the behavior, supervision and management of online certification service organs," said the MII official. Enditem