Shenzhen's practice of making digital cable TV programs available should serve as a model for the nation, a senior official of the Communist Party of China (CPC) said.

Li Changchun, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, said that Shenzhen should provide technical service and training to help other regions implement the use of digital television, during his inspection tour from May 18 to 22 in south China's Guangdong Province.

"Guangdong Province has played a leading role during China's reform and should remain in the vanguard in building an innovative country," Li said, urging the city to contribute to China's cultural power.

Earlier this month, the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television, said China is working to switch from analog cable television to digital cable television after a three-year pilot program proved successful in 49 urban areas.

China is planning to give all its citizens access to digital cable television by 2015.

According to government statistics, at the end of last year China had 2,548 radio and TV stations, 126 million cable TV subscribers and 900 million regular television viewers.

(Xinhua News Agency May 23, 2006)