CRI听力:China Launches Real-Name Registration for Online Shops

Online shop owners in China are now required to submit their personal information, including real names and addresses, to e-commerce regulators before they can operate online businesses.
 
The country's first regulation for online goods and services transactions, issued by the State Administration for Industry and Commerce, China's market regulator has taken effect. Zhang Ru has more.



As online shopping gains popularity in China, online fraud is also emerging.
 
A shop owner surnamed Cao who has a shop on Taobao.com, one of China's largest online shopping websites, says the real-name registration is beneficial to both buyers and sellers.

"Actually, on Taobao.com, all the shop owners have already been using real names. On one hand, it can prove our authenticity and make consumers feel reassured. On the other hand, it will help to increase our credibility and improve our sales. Also, real-name registrations can crack down on cases of cheating on some illegal small websites. This will protect the interests of both consumers and legal shop owners."

A consumer surnamed Sun also welcomes the new regulation.

"I think it's good. If the sellers and buyers have disputes, the e-commerce regulators can conduct an investigation and related departments will resolve the problem. It makes me feel at ease when shopping online. Since real-name registrations for online shops will better protect consumers' rights, I will buy more things from online shops than before. "

Fang Yingzhi, an analyst with the China e-Business Research Center, says the regulation will promote China's e-commerce industry.

"The regulation can improve and purify the environment of online trading, regulate online transactions and promote the online shopping industry."

The regulation details the obligations of online shop owners and e-commerce regulators. It also stipulates the obligations of commerce authorities over the management of online shopping.

Regulators must now register and review online shop owners' identities along with their business credentials, establish mechanisms to ensure the safety of online transactions and protect buyers' legal rights. They also must monitor sites and bar the sale of counterfeit goods.

Research conducted by the China E-business Research Center indicates that the number of China's online business websites will rise to 25,000 by the end of this year, while the number of online shops is estimated to be more than 3 million.

For CRI, I'm Zhang Ru.