Platform to be trendsetter, say experts

Online career networking company LinkedIn Corp will be the much-needed catalyst that will speed up the development of China's professional social networking market, said analysts and insiders.

With more and more Chinese users using online platforms for social networking and interactions with friends, it is only a matter of time before demand for professional social networking systems like LinkedIn also goes up rapidly, says a recent report published by the Beijing-based Internet consultancy Analysys International. Though the agency does not give any specific figures about the size of this particular market in China, it goes on to say that the market will see "skyrocketing growth" this year.

Jing Xiaolei, an analyst with Analysys, said that most of the Chinese users are already familiar with online social networking systems, such as Tencent's WeChat and QQ, and use them for interacting with friends. However, most of them have now realized that there is a need to have separate platforms for social and professional networking.