China yesterday launched a platform with the goal of notching up 1 million Chinese-character domain names, a move marking a new era for Chinese Web surfers to trek the information highway in their native language.

Microsoft announced late last year that its new Internet Explorer 7 browser and Vista individual operating system could support Chinese domain names, a crucial technological breakthrough that allows the application, paving the way for the new thrust by the Chinese domain name registrar.

Announcing the initiative, the China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC) called it its final effort to break the language barrier on the English-dominated Internet.

"Chinese domain names are a must for domestic Internet development and are also an urgent need of Chinese Net users," said Mao Wei, the head of CNNIC. He predicted that within two years most Chinese will surf the Internet in Chinese language.

(China Daily 04/11/2007 page14)

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