Liu Yunshan (C), head of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, addresses a national meeting on Internet culture on Monday in Beijing, June 4, 2007. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    BEIJING, June 4 (Xinhua) -- As China battles with Internet pornography, the country's top propaganda official Liu Yunshan has put forward the idea of "building a web culture with Chinese characteristics".

    Addressing a national meeting on Internet culture on Monday, Liu called for the molding of the Internet into "the new means of promoting a culture of advanced socialism, the new platform for public cultural services, the new area for spiritual fulfillment and a new channel for China to present itself to the outside world.

    "It is a significant decision made by the Central Committee of Chinese Communist Party (CPC) to build a web culture with Chinese characteristics," said Liu, head of the Committee's Publicity Department.

    Promoting such a web culture, said Liu, is vital in "maintaining social harmony, complying with public will and protecting the country's young minds".

    "There is also an urgent need to promote a positive national image and boost China's cultural soft power," said Liu, who is also a member of the Political Bureau and the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee.

    By May 15, China's high-profile campaign against online pornography had resulted in the shutdown of nearly 5,000 websites, more than 270 arrests and removal of 160,000 pieces of "obscene and pornographic" materials, according to the Ministry of Public Security.