Chinese Businesses Urged to Get Online.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

BEIJING--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 31, 2000

All of Chinese heavyweight Internet players have got together in what is called CBGO (Chinese businesses getting online) campaign to raise the Internet utilization and computerization level of Chinese businesses.

The inauguration ceremony of the campaign held in Beijing on January 19. The ceremony turns out to be a summit between Chinese Internet gurus and their offline counterparts -- CEOs of traditional manufacturing enterprises. They each make short and pithy speeches to the gathering of more than 1,200 people, either pledging to help off line businesses to embrace Internet, or sharing experiences on how Internet aids business growth.

The campaign is initiated by Civilink International Information Technology Co Ltd (Beijing), the largest Internet Presence Provider in China. Civilink hosts the web sites of a consternation of Chinese star businesses including Haier, Changhong, Tongrentang, TCL, Tsingtao Beer, Capital Steel Works, Nokia (China), Samsung (China). &uot;But overall the ratio of Chinese businesses already online is still too low, only one out of 500 Chinese businesses has its own web site,&uot; said Civilink's CEO Forrest Zhang.

To correct the situation Civilink invited all the major Internet companies in China to join it in a national campaign called CBGO. Civilink's call was enthusiastically welcomed by all the top Internet companies in the country. Top Chinese IT media Chinese Post &Telecommunications, China Computer World and China Infoworld quickly signed up as co-initiators of the campaign. Famous enterprises that have Internet presence volunteer to play a demonstrative role in the campaign. Tongrentang, Tsingtao Beer, Changhong, Kelon, Erdos among others are on the initiator list. China Information Society, China Software Industrial Association, China Computer Users Association and CNNIC (China Internet Network Information Centre) are the full Supporters of the campaign.

The aim and purpose of the campaign is: facilitating and promoting the computerization and Internet utilization level of all Chinese businesses through pooling together the strengths of major Chinese media, top Chinese Internet companies, major Chinese industrial associations and famous Chinese enterprises already online.

Among speakers at the forum are Gao Xinmin, Director of China Information Association, and Song Ling, Director of Computerization Promotion Department of MII. They both challenge the Internet companies to offer even better services and the off line Chinese businesses to turn to Internet for enhanced productivity and competitiveness.

In his 30 minute keynote address to the gathering, Civilink's founder &CEO Forrest Zhang said business getting online is a historical imperative. China is soon to join the WTO and Chinese businesses are poised to compete with their foreign counterparts on an open and level field, many of which are on a much higher grade of information infrastructure and Internet utilization.

Zhang stressed that business getting online is an important issue that affects the destiny of China's Internet industry. Internet in China can not survive on C (consumers) alone. B (businesses) must go to Internet to offer services. &uot;If Internet brings to China only consumption, not production and sales and value creation, consumption on its own will not be sustainable for long.&uot; Zhang cautioned.

Chinese Internet stars including top management of Sina, Sohu and Netease attend the ceremony and the following Chinese Business Computerization Forum. They all urge the Chinese business community to get ready for Internet age and get an Internet presence as soon as possible.

The campaign has a dedicated web site (www.lianmeng.com.cn) maintained by Civilink. Each of the initiators and future members has a link on it. The website, which contains information on almost all Chinese Internet related companies, will become a portal site showing an enterprise whom to contact for getting online.

The campaign will continue throughout the year and the country. It is going to organize road shows and other activities in major Chinese cities. CCTV and many other major Chinese media have applied to report on the developments throughout the campaign.

About Civilink:

Founded in 1996, Civilink International Information Technology Co Ltd is now the leading web presence provider in China with 8,000 customers, which gives the company about 30 per cent domestic market share and a clear number one position in the industry. In April 1999, Civilink was bestowed the Best Agent by CNNIC (China Internet Network Information Centre) for its largest customer base and consistently high quality customer service. The title is reviewed and renewed on a month to month basis. Civilink has retained the title ever since. In July 1998, Civilink was one of the first two in China to join the InterNIC Premier Partnership program. Civilink became NSI's first Premier Gold Partner in Asia in December 1999. In October 1998, Civilink rolled out the Wanweb Plan that committed the company to building 10,000 websites for Chinese business community by the end of 2,000. Presently 1,000 enterprises are added to Civilink's customer base per month, ever widening the lead Civilink enjoys over its closest rivals. Zhangs confidently predict that the target in the Wanweb Plan will be reached ahead of schedule.