The first 50 Chinese state organ and administration domain names and websites were officially released in Beijing Thursday, according to the China Internet Network Information Centre (CNNIC).

CNNIC director Mao Wei addresses at the news conference that first 50 Chinese state organ and administration domain names and websites were officially released in Beijing June 8, 2006.[cnnic.cn]

CNNIC also launched chinagov.cn, a website that helps administrations apply for Chinese domain names.

Domain names identify the company or organization that owns a particular computer network connection address, such as www.yahoo.com, or www.sina.com.

Netizens can visit corresponding pages by inputting Chinese domain names of organizations, CNNIC spokesman Mr. Liu says.

"For example, if you would like to visit the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, you can type in the Chinese characters and get to the site," Liu says.

CNNIC, a semi-official organization, monitors Internet traffic and releases bi-annual reports on the development of the Web in China. This is the first time it has released Chinese domain names for state bodies.

The number of Chinese netizens has skyrocketed to over 100 million as of 2006, most of who are more at ease using their mother tongue, Chinese, rather than English online, Liu says.

"These websites can promote communication between the government and the people," Liu says.

Liu says Chinese Internet domain name regulations are formulated in accordance with relevant international laws governing the administration of Internet domain names, and aim to promote the development of electronic politics and the Internet in China.
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