Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao Tuesday urged governments at all levels to accelerate the pace of the practical application of information technology in the interest of the country's modernization drive.

Wen, who is also chief of the leading group on IT application in the country, said that the promotion of practical IT application is a major decision adopted by the CPC Central Committee and a strategic step to speed up the country's modernization drive.

"Stronger efforts must be made to inaugurate a new era for IT application in the country," he said at the third meeting of the leading group.

According to the meeting, IT application should play a key role in the country's industrialization, especially in major economic and social sectors.

The meeting called for greater efforts in developing the Internet, building IT infrastructure and promoting e-commerce and e-administration while ensuring information security.

More efforts should also be made to formulate relevant laws and regulations and to speed up the training of IT personnel to ensure comprehensive IT application, said the meeting.

Vice-Premier Huang Ju and other senior officials of the leading group were present at the meeting.

(Xinhua News Agency July 23, 2003)