Quality, safety should be buzzwords for online firms, says Suning chief

E-commerce firms in China will have to ensure the safety and quality of the products that are transacted through their platforms, according to a proposal floated by a leading industry official.

Zhang Jindong, chairman of electronics retailer Suning Commerce Group and a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, the top advisory body, said his proposal aims to safeguard consumer rights and create a robust e-commerce system devoid of wrongdoings, counterfeits and poor quality products.

Online retail sales climbed to 2.79 trillion yuan ($450 billion) in 2014, representing a year-on-year growth of 49.7 percent. Though the segment accounted for 10 percent of the total consumption in China, it was bogged down by counterfeit products and copyright infringements.