The Information Technology Application Office of the State Council, China's cabinet, has issued a 2004 government website performance evaluation, with websites of provincial governments topping the list.

Internet portals operated by provincial governments received the highest score of 43.4, followed by 40.7 for central government entities' websites.

Websites operated by prefectural or city governments ranked third at 27.2 and those of county governments came in last at 14.8.

Economically developed municipalities and provinces like Shanghai, Beijing and Zhejiang received the highest ratings, while central government organizations such as the Ministry of Commerce, the State Food and Drug Administration and the Ministry of Land and Resources were praised for well-managed portals.

At the end of 2004, China had 10,260 websites operated by government institutions. Seventy-one of the 76 ministerial-level government departments and 28 out of 31 provincial governments have their own websites.

(Xinhua News Agency March 14, 2005)