The Internet developed fast in China after its introduction in the mid-1990s, and it is estimated that now more than 2,000 of the some 10,000 Chinese news media nationwide are connected to the Internet. Experts predict that the Internet news media and the traditional media will merge in the 21st century into a multi-media news platform with sounds, pictures, and text. Compared with radio and television, Internet media can produce news coverage with more information in a faster time. And they have the advantage of not being limited by borders or geography, giving people living abroad easy access to the Chinese media via the Internet. Key Chinese news and information portal sites include xinhuanet.com with comprehensive up-to-date news coverage in China; peopledaily.com.cn with news and informed opinion; Chinadaily.com.cn with English-language coverage and cri.com.cn with audio as well as text. The multiple-language portal site of the China Internet Information Center at china.org.cn is a major international communication portal site that delivers up-to-date Chinese news reports to its users abroad and provides basic introductory information about China. It offers, for example, background information on the political, judicial and legislative systems of China to accompany its coverage of the annual sessions of the National People's Congress and the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. Its regular features include coverage of press conferences sponsored by the State Council Information Office.
