The EU-China Information Society project is a joint initiative between the Government of China and the European Union which began on 1 July 2005 and runs through to June 2009.The project seeks to use innovative information and communication technology(ICT) for enhancing regulatory dialogue and improved government services in China,as well as linking with European private and public sector organisations to establish long-lasting relations in the Information Society sector.
    The project was officially launched on 13th January 2006,marking a milestone for China in its effort to promote informatisation.At the ceremocy,EU Commissioner for Information Society & Media,Viviane Reding,noted:"This project,focusing in particular on e-government,but reaching out to other areas of the Information Society,constitutes an important support for Information Society Dialogue between China and the EU."
    Ultimately,the project aims at improving the living and working conditions for whom"information"has become a crucial part of 21st century life.An important part of this improvement is encouraging the transparency and quality of government services or "e-government".Through electronic service delivery and the support of back-office procedures,e-government concepts can contribute to more efficient ways of providing government services.
The project includes four key objective as follows:
    •Support the Chinese government to enact and implement essential laws,regulations and non-legislative measures to improve the legal and regulatory environment.These laws cover a combination of telecommunications,e-commerce and security issues.
    •Conduct e-government demonstration projects to improve government services and address the digital divide in 6 selected municipalities: Chengdu,Yantai,Handan,Baotou,Yanquan and Xi’an.
    •Provide training in e-governmentservices and legal topics in 14 selected provinces and municipalityes: Beijing,Shanghai,Guangdong, Hubei, Henan,Jiangsu,Hebei,Liaoning,Guangxi,Yunnan,Shanxi,Gansu,Qinghai and Xinjiang.
    • Build capacity through an intensive management training programme;strengthen and support Information Society dialogue between the Euand China including an annual high-level conference; and conduct an annual benchmarking exercise.
    2006 sees the first year of project implementation.The plan for this first year includes around 200 activities,including research,study tours,workshops,conferences,internships,training courses,the creation of an information society knowledge base and a digital library.
Through these activities,the project expects to make a substantial contribution to improved Government processes at central,provincial and local level.All activities are structured in a way that can be sustained after project support ends.