China will start soon a nationwide crackdown on illegal or unauthorized websites, in a bid to create a clean information environment for the healthy growth of youngsters, according to the Ministry of Information Industry Thursday.

The ministry will cut off the connection of illegal websites to servers, strengthen management on information at on-line BBS and chatting rooms, and set up a database for IP addresses in the clean-up campaign, said Minister Wang Xudong. Telecommunication companies are also encouraged to support family users with technologies to filter out harmful information and with services to guarantee clean online environment.