European internet domain name registry TLD Registry Ltd and 10 internet registrars have signed preliminary agreements to sell fully-Chinese generic top-level domains (gTLDs).
The companies will sell "Dot Chinese Online" and "Dot Chinese Website" domain names. The new TLDs are expected to go live in October.
Sales and marketing activity will occur worldwide, with special focus on China, Hong Kong and Singapore. Of the ten preliminary agreements, seven have been signed in the last four weeks.
"The Dot Chinese Online and Dot Chinese Website TLDs are culturally relevant, linguistically correct and will dramatically improve the way the booming Chinese web operates," said Simon Cousins, communications director at TLD Registry.
"Our TLDs are of interest to businesses worldwide, whether they're serving Chinese people in China or Chinese communities around the world," said Cousins.
According to TLD Registry, the fully-Chinese domain names will be popular with trademark and brand owners, businesses that want to better serve their customers and domain name investors.