Shanghai welcomes international media corporations to take part in developing the city's new media - a combination of the Internet and traditional information services, Mayor Xu Kuangdi said yesterday.

During a meeting with Gerald M. Levin, chief executive officer of America Online Time Warner Inc. , Xu said the city should fully develop its combined information services, including Web-based and print media.

"China's pending entry into the World Trade Organization is important in terms of strengthening relationship and investment," said Levin, adding that Shanghai will become a global center for new media, business, culture and entertainment.

Levin said America Online Time Warner is seeking the Chinese government's approval to broadcast its China Entertainment Television channel on the Chinese mainland.

The channel's programs are now only available at luxury hotels in southern Guangdong Province.

According to the Asian Wall Street Journal , America Online Time Warner is expected to soon win approval to broadcast the channel's programs to Chinese homes.

In June, America Online, the Internet arm of AOL Time Warner, formed a joint venture in Beijing with Legend Holdings , China's largest personal computer maker, to provide Internet content and access service on the mainland. The first-phase investment of the deal was valued at US$200 million.

Both Xu and Levin agreed that the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings indicated things are still moving forward even after the September 11 terrorist attack on the United States.

(eastday.com October 21, 2001)