China

UNICEF launches its global website in Chinese

© AP Photo

Children in China surf the web. Over the past six years, the number of Chinese-language Internet users has quadrupled.

By Kun Li

NEW YORK, USA, 15 January 2007 – UNICEF has launched a new edition of its global website in Chinese.

Teamed with the English, French, Spanish and Arabic editions of unicef.org, the Chinese-language site will help the organization reach out to millions more Internet users with news and information about its work to save and improve children’s lives.

The launch promises to greatly broaden UNICEF’s online presence. Chinese is now the most popular language on the web, second only to English. Over the past six years, the number of Chinese Internet users has quadrupled; they now comprise more than 13 per cent of the 1 billion users worldwide.

“It is important for us to reach out to the fastest-growing group of Internet users to help them understand the challenges facing children,” said the Chief of UNICEF’s Internet, Broadcast and Images Section, Stephen Cassidy.

Over 120 million online

The majority of Chinese-language Internet users are located in China, the world’s most populous country. More than 120 million people in China, most of them children or young adults, currently have Internet access.

UNICEF continues to operate programmes for children at risk in China, where global market forces have fuelled overall rapid growth but increased social and economic disparities. UNICEF China’s priorities include:

• HIV/AIDS education and prevention
• Protection of street children and youths from ethnic minority and migrant groups
• Reduction of infant and maternal mortality and undernutrition in rural areas.

China is also home to several UNICEF Goodwill Ambassadors, including action hero Jackie Chan, concert pianist Lang Lang and Hong Kong actor and singer Leon Lai.

© UNICEF video

A typical Internet cafe crowded with young people in Beijing, China.

Reaching Chinese youth

UNICEF’s Representative in China, Yin Yin Nwe, says the new site not only extends the global reach of unicef.org but will also serve as a crucial bridge between UNICEF and China’s young people.

“The Chinese public need to be informed about the poorest and most vulnerable groups of children and communities in China,” says Dr. Nwe. “Children and young people are the focus of UNICEF's work, and they need to be informed and educated about issues such as how to lead more healthy and productive lifestyles, and do their part to contribute towards reducing disparities in China.

“And the new Chinese website can help us achieve that,” she adds.

Please visit UNICEF’s Chinese-language global website at www.unicef.org/chinese.

The UNICEF China country website, launched in May 2005, can be found at www.unicef.org/china.