January 13, China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC) released the "23rd Statistical Report on the Development of China's Internet" which showed that: By the end of 2008, the number of Chinese netizens reached 298 million. This means that the approximate number of Chinese Internet users has now reached 300 million people, not only becoming the largest country in terms of netizens, but also for the first time China's Internet penetration rate at 22.6% exceeded the global average level of 21.9%. It took seven and a half years for China's netizens to grow from 1 million to 100 million; two and a half years to grow from 100 million to 200 million; and only more than one year to increase from 200 million to 300 million. Currently, China also ranks first in the world in broadband Internet users and national domain name registration volume.