Asia Pacific Top Level Domains Limited --APTLD-- Elects Internet Pioneer Prof. Qian, Administrator of China's .CN as Chairman.

Business/Technology Editors

BEIJING--(BUSINESS WIRE)

Sept. 13, 2000

Eight New Board Members Elected

The Asia Pacific Top Level Domains (APTLD) today announced the election of Prof. Hualin Qian, deputy director of the Computer Network Information Center (CNIC) of Chinese Academy of Sciences and administrator for .CN, the country-code domain name for China, as its new chairman. Prof. Qian will take over the leadership of the APTLD and oversee its effort to promote communication among the Asia Pacific Top Level Domains (TLDs) and promote interest in the Asia Pacific TLDs.

Prof. Qian has over 30 years experience in the computing industry and has been responsible for many of the major technology projects in China. He was instrumental in bringing the Internet to China 1989, was responsible for designing and manufacturing the earliest PC-FAX system in China and developed the first X.25 network in China. He currently serves as deputy director at CNNIC Steering Committee. Previously he served as head of the networking division at the Institute of Computing Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences and deputy chief engineer at the Legend Group Corporation. He is a distinguished professor and currently serves as guest professor at People's University of China, the Institute of Management of Chinese Academy of Sciences. He has also been a guest professor at Polytechnic University of Sheng-Yang and a visiting scholar at Georgia Institute of Technology in the United States. Prof. Qian has held research positions at the Institute of Information, in Fraunhofer Geserschaft, Germany and the Institute of Computing Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

In addition to Prof. Qian, seven other APTLD members were elected to the board including Kanchana Kanchanasut administrator of .TH, the country-code domain for Thailand, Kwang Ho Song administrator of .KR, the country-code domain for Korea, Peter Dengate-Thrush administrator of .NZ the country-code domain for New Zealand, J. William Semich administrator of .NU, the country-code domain for Niue, Shuichi Tashiro of JPNIC, administrator for .JP, the country-code domain for Japan, WS Chen administrator of .TW, the country-code domain for Taiwan and Mr. Ramesh Kumar Nadarajah who is with MYNIC of Malaysia.

The new chairman graciously thanked the outgoing chairman Kilnam Chon of Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) and administrator for .KR, for his accomplishments and efforts. "Under Professor Chon's leadership the APTLD has grown into a recognized organization with over 70 cc-TLDs that represent Asia Pacific across national borders. He has provided valuable insight and demonstrated great leadership," said Prof. Qian.

The Board members were elected by a majority of votes of the Ordinary Members present at the company's annual general meeting held in Yokohama, Japan. The new Board members will serve for a term commencing on the date of the annual general meeting (July 18th 2000) until the date of the next annual general meeting.

Also appointed at the meeting were three vice chairs. Peter Dengate-Thrush, chairman of ISOCNZ, administrator for .NZ, will serve as senior vice chair, J. William Semich founder of the Internet Users Society - Niue and administrator for .NU, will serve as vice chair for finance, and Shuichi Tashiro of JPNIC, the .JP administrator, will serve as vice-chair, membership.