China's 2012 Information and Telecommunications Exhibition opened in Beijing on Tuesday, with the theme of smart & innovative connections. Ericsson, the world's top ICT provider, predicted 5 billion internet connections by 2020 when a "networked society" would come into full swing. On the picture, Shang Bing (left), vice minister of Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and Zhang Xiaoqiang (2nd from left), vice minister of State Development and Reform Commission, visit Ericsson exhibition booth. [Photo by chinadaily.com.cn]