China's top drug authority forged a partnership on Monday with the nation's Internet search giant Baidu, to help crack down on counterfeit drugs and illegal websites trading shoddy products.

The new alliance means Chinese netizens, of which there are 560 million on the mainland, will have access via Baidu to basic information, authorized by the State Food and Drug Administration, about more than 180,000 kinds of drugs including the producer, description and dosage, said Zhu Guang, vice-president of Baidu.

Online drug stores approved by the administration will be identified by Baidu in related search results, to help consumers make the right choices, he said.