China shuts down 130,000 unlicensed Internet cafes

China shuts down 130,000 unlicensed Internet cafes

BEIJING, March 17 (Xinhua) -- More than 130,000 Internet cafes operating without the proper licenses were closed over the past sixyears as part of the Chinese government's long-term efforts toregulate the market, as recently reported.

According to the "2010 China Internet Cafe Market Report," whichwas released on Thursday by the Ministry of Culture, nearly 7,000cyber shops were suspended just in 2010. Also, 391,000 yuan (60,000U.S. dollars) from illegal Internet cafes were confiscated.

"In 2011, the country's Internet cafe market will continue toexperience hardships in industrial upgrading and structuraladjustments. The government will continue to regulate the order ofthe market by promoting large Internet cafe chains," said an unnamedministry official on Thursday.

The report shows that the number of cyber cafe customers reached163 million at the end of 2010, which saw a 21.1 percent increase.However, the market shrunk by 12.96 percent to 77.12 billion yuanlast year due to small profits and structural adjustments.

According to the official, the ministry will this year focus itssupervision on rural areas and intensify punishment for Internetcafes that break laws, such as the rule on accepting minors.