BEIJING, CHINA, January 21, 2005 - SOHU.COM Inc. (Nasdaq:
SOHU), China's leading online media, communications, commerce and mobile
value-added services company, and the Miss World Organization, represented by
its Chairperson, Miss World and Miss China, have held a joint press conference
in Beijing today to raise awareness to combat AIDS in China, in particular among
women.
Dr. Charles Zhang, Chairman of the Board and CEO of SOHU, is an AIDS
ambassador for the Chinese Ministry of Health in recognition of SOHU’s corporate
social responsibility track record of promoting AIDS awareness. Five years ago,
the SOHU portal was the first online media platform to begin publishing
information about AIDS, including articles Dr. Zhang wrote to alert the public
in China about the threat of this debilitating disease. In addition, SOHU and
the Ministry of Health have co-developed the official anti-AIDS website in
China.
"We are glad to provide the information and communication platform
for AIDS education and offer AIDS patients an online destination to
communicate with each other. The battle against AIDS enjoys full government
support and as a result China is making progress, but the fight is far
from over. I am very pleased that Miss World, the Ministry of Health
and SOHU are working together for this important cause," said Charles
Zhang.
The press conference marked the launch of a charity event organized by SOHU,
Miss World Organization and the China Center for Disease Control (CCDC) under
the Ministry of Health to raise funds for AIDS education and awareness, with
special emphasis on AIDS prevention for women. All contestants who took part in
the recently concluded 54th Miss World Contest have contributed a favorite
personal item that will be auctioned on SOHU’s online store. Leading online
auction company eBay EachNet will contribute to this charity event by providing
the use of its auction platform. The proceeds will be donated to the CCDC.
"We are fighting a serious AIDS battle in China. As of September
2004, 89,067 people in the country have been diagnosed as AIDS patients.
AIDS is an illness that is preventable. The Internet is an effective
medium through which to promote AIDS education. SOHU, as one of the
most influential and powerful portals in China, will be able to make
a significant contribution to our anti-AIDS efforts," said Mr.
Haihua Deng, Head of the News Department of the Ministry of Health.
By attending the press conference in Beijing, the Peruvian-born winner
of the 54th Miss World Contest, Maria Julia Mantilla Garcia, kicked
off her ‘Miss World global charity tour 2005'. SOHU’s cooperation with
Miss World began in late 2004, when the portal hosted the exclusive
Chinese Official website for the 54th Miss World Contest, held in the
tropical resort town Sanya, Hainan. Signaling the Internet's growing
role in entertainment events, this Miss World contest organized for
the first time telephone, SMS text and Internet voting to select the
final winner. Julie Morley, Chairperson of the Miss World Organization, commented:
"Global charity work is the mission of every Miss World. AIDS is
one of the biggest challenges the world is facing in the 21st century.
Already 39 million adults worldwide have been infected with AIDS, and
nearly half of them are women. We hope that Miss World’s efforts will
help protect women’s health in China and around the world."
Safe Harbor Statement
This announcement contains forward-looking statements. Statements that
are not historical facts, including statements about our beliefs and
expectations, are forward-looking statements. These statements are based
on current plans, estimates and projections, and therefore you should
not place undue reliance on them. Forward-looking statements involve
inherent risks and uncertainties. We caution you that 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, SOHU’s historical and possible future
losses, limited operating history, uncertain regulatory landscape in
the People's Republic of China, fluctuations in quarterly operating
results, and the company's reliance on online advertising sales, e-subscriptions
(most of which are collected from a few mobile telecom operators) and
e-commerce for its revenues. Further information regarding these and
other risks is included in SOHU's Annual Report on Form 10K for the
year ended December 31, 2003, and other filings with the Securities
and Exchange Commission.
About SOHU
SOHU.COM (NASDAQ: SOHU) is China's premier online brand and indispensable
to the daily life of millions of Chinese who use the portal network
for their news, search, e-mail, wireless messaging, instant messaging,
browsing, games and shopping. SOHU has built the most comprehensive
matrix of web properties in China, consisting of the mass portal and
leading online media destination www.sohu.com ; the #1 online alumni club www.chinaren.com ; #1 games portal www.17173.com and top real estate website www.focus.cn . This network of web properties offers
the vast SOHU user community the broadest possible choices regarding
information, entertainment, communication and commerce. SOHU.com, established
by Dr. Charles Zhang, one of China's Internet pioneers, is in its eighth
year of operation.
For further information: Dahlia Wei SOHU
Investor Relations and Communications Tel: +86 10 6272 6598 E-mail: ir@sohu-inc.com http://www.sohu.com/about/English/
|