Xinhuanet’s mission statement says it is an “important information organ of the central government”, and at the same time is “striving to . . . become a first-rate, internationally competitive” media outlet. Some might see a tension here. The prospectus for the site’s initial public offering does not see it that way. That prospectus boasts 349 pages (in Chinese only). The issue will be available solely to domestic investors, via Shanghai-listed A shares. Xinhua News Agency is expected to own 64 per cent after the flotation.
新華網(Xinhuanet)自我介紹是一家「中央重點新聞網站」,並且「力爭……成爲具有全球競爭力的一流網路媒體」。有的人也許會從這句話中感受到一絲壓力。但新華網首次公開發行(IPO)的招股說明書卻沒有給人這種感覺。該招股書長達349頁(只有中文版本)。新華網計劃在上海證券所發行A股,只有國內投資者能認購。上市後,新華社(Xinhua News Agency)預計將持有該網站64%的股份。