SHANGHAI, China, June 11 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- SINA Corporation, a leading internet portal in China, and Google, the world's largest search engine company, announced today a strategic partnership in the areas of search, advertisement and news, in an effort to provide better search experience to Internet users in China.
Under the strategic partnership, Google's web page search service will be embedded in SINA's search box, allowing users to easily and conveniently switch between online content and web page search. In the area of advertising cooperation, advertisers on SINA will be able to maximize their brand value, leveraging SINA's large traffic and Google's proven online advertising system and experience. Through this cooperation, SINA will increase its influence among Chinese portal users, and Google will continue to popularize its brand, products and services in China. In the near future, Google and SINA will expand their cooperation into news and other content areas to provide Chinese users with an ever improving search experience.
"This partnership leverages the strong offerings of two Internet powerhouses to provide Internet users in China a better overall experience," said Mr. Charles Chao, CEO of SINA. "Google search is the most popular search engine in the world and we would like our large user base to enjoy the experience. SINA is the leading internet portal in China and SINA News is one of the most popular online sources for news in China. We are pleased that this cooperation will make SINA News even more easily accessible by more users. Through our strategic cooperation, online users as well as online advertisers stand to benefit from the leveraging of strong brands, traffic and technologies from the two companies. We believe this partnership will allow us to explore more opportunities for cooperation in the future."
"SINA is the most influential portal in China and a household brand in China's Internet industry," said Dr. Kai-Fu Lee, Vice President of Google and President of Google Greater China. "Google's mission is to organize the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful. Google focuses on meeting local user needs in China and is committed to providing Chinese users with the best products and services. The strategic partnership with SINA is just another example of Google's continuous localization efforts in China. The comprehensive cooperation will combine our resources and give full play to our respective advantages. With it, we will be able to provide more Chinese users with superior experience in search and news, and assist Chinese enterprises grow their businesses."
About SINA
SINA Corporation (Nasdaq: SINA) is a leading online media company and value-added information service (VAS) provider for China and for global Chinese communities. With a branded network of localized web sites targeting Greater China and overseas Chinese, SINA provides services through five major business lines including SINA.com (online news and content), SINA Mobile (mobile value-added services), SINA Community (community-based services and games), SINA.net (search and enterprise services) and SINA E-Commerce (online shopping). Together these provide an array of services including region-focused online portals, mobile value-added services, search and directory, interest-based and community-building channels, free and premium email, online games, virtual ISP, classified listings, fee-based services, e-commerce and enterprise e-solutions.
About Google
Google Inc. ( http://www.google.com ) has innovative search technologies that are providing information services to millions of users around the world. Google is a leader in all major markets of the Internet industry. Google offers targeted advertisement services with measurable results for enterprises of all sizes, with enhanced experiences for Internet users. Google has its headquarters in Silicon Valley, with offices across North America, Europe and Asia.
Safe Harbor Statement
This announcement contains forward-looking statements that relate to, among other things, SINA's strategic and operational plans. SINA may also make forward-looking statements in the Company's periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, in its annual report to shareholders, in its proxy statements, in its offering circulars and prospectuses, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. SINA assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements in this release and elsewhere. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the Company's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. Potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, SINA's limited operating history, the uncertain regulatory landscape in the People's Republic of China, the changes by mobile operators in China to their policies for MVAS, the Company's ability to develop and market other MVAS products, fluctuations in quarterly operating results, the Company's reliance on online advertising sales and MVAS for a majority of its revenues, the Company's reliance on mobile operators in China to provide MVAS, any failure to successfully develop and introduce new products and any failure to successfully integrate acquired businesses. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in SINA's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006 and its other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
