On November 8, after delivering a speech at the University of Hong Kong, Robin Li, the CEO of Baidu.com, China's largest Internet search engine, revealed there is still possibility the company will be listed on the Hong Kong stock market and there are also plans to explore the consumer market.
Li said it would be difficult for Baidu, an overseas listed company, to return to the A-share market at present because of the government restrictions on the Chinese mainland. Hong Kong, however, may become the second place where the company is able to get listed.
Li also said they have realized the Chinese consumer-to-consumer (C2C) market has a large demand but the current online auctioneers are not doing well. Through a mode integrating searches and online communities, the company would fight against its rivals such as taobao.com, ebay China, and paipai.com to make a presence in the C2C market as early as next year.
It is possible that Baidu will expand its C2C business through acquisition, Li added.
For more details, please read the full story in Chinese. (http://www.dfdaily.com/node2/node27/node260/userobject1ai37733.shtml)
(China.org.cn November 9, 2007)
