Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in 2012, the government says it has been taking major steps to clean up and better regulate the country's cyberspace, which had become a hotbed for criminal and anti-social activities. Six years on, and authorities say China's hundreds of millions of internet users can feel much safer when they log on to their favorite sites. CGTN's Chuck Tinte has more.

China's cyberspace has become a home from home for millions of people. Yet its popularity means it has also become an opportunity for people who want to engage in illicit activities.

Scams, fake news, pornography and other unwelcome content began to put people off and the government sprung to action.

ZUO XIAODONG, VICE PRESIDENT CHINA INFORMATION SECURITY RESEARCH INSTITUTE "Some Internet enterprises ignore social responsibility and walk on the edge of the law. The relevant departments have strengthened law enforcement to make cyberspace clear and bright. They have responded to the general expectations of society, and the people welcomed their moves very much."

Without cyber security, there is no national security. More than 700 million people use Internet services in China and these people have to be protected. Last June, China adopted the Cybersecurity Law, which opened a new platform for managing the country's cyberspace. More than 20-thousand illegal websites were shut down last year.

HE QINLIN EXPERT ON INFORMATION SECURITY "Advocating information security is the equivalent to national security, in terms of national policy. It has raised information security to a high level. The corresponding departments have put corresponding policies in place, which provide some basis and means for us to carry out safety protection in all walks of life."

To keep pace with the criminals, authorities have been boosted by the emergence of modern technical support platforms in the way of "quantum satellites", "5G" technology and the Beidou navigation system, and this has helped with the construction of a robust network security system.

JING JIWU, CHIEF ENGINEER INSTITUTE OF INFORMATION ENGINEERING, CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES "Our core technologies are breaking through in many ways, but we still have a long way to go to catch up with the Western world. We still need to continue to invest and support the development of core technologies, as requested by President Xi."

Chuck Tinte, CGTN.