China’s infotainment web portal Sina has said that it will launch an English-language microblogging service aimed at overseas users.
Last month, another company from China which offers services similar to those of LinkedIn, Ushi, revealed its ambitious plans to expand.
Sina is run by Sina Corporation which was founded in 1999 in mainland China. The company’s global financial headquarters have been based in Shanghai since 2001.
Company spokesman Mao Taotao said that the new service will similar to its Chinese-language Weibo microblog.
"We’re now developing an English-language microblog service, but there is no timetable to launch it," Mao said.
"The service is aimed at overseas users, but we don’t target users from a particular country."
The service will rival Twitter which is blocked in China over censorship.
Sina said it will follow China’s policies governing the Internet.
"As a Chinese Internet company, we will continue to abide by Chinese laws and regulations," said Mao.
Head of the School of Journalism and Media at the China University of Political Science and Law Song Jianwu told the China daily, "Introducing an English microblog service is an important step in Sina’s process of internationalisation."
"Sina’s English microblog will be a chance for China to provide the world with a new platform for the expression of public opinions," Song added.
China boasts of the world’s most populous Internet market, with over 450 million online users.
