ChinaNet Online Holdings Expands Presence in Korea; Participates at 2012 Korean Chain Industry Fair in Shanghai

BEIJING, Jan. 30, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ChinaNet Online Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq:CNET) (the "Company" or "ChinaNet"), a leading B2B (business to business) Internet technology company focusing on providing online-to-offline ("O2O") sales channel expansion services for small businesses (so-called small and medium-sized enterprises ("SMEs") in China) and entrepreneurial management and LINK services for entrepreneurs in the People's Republic of China, today announced that the Company's subsidiary, Liansuo.com, participated in the Korean Chain Industry Briefings and Fair ("the Fair") held in Shanghai on December 12, 2012.

Mr. George Chu, COO of ChinaNet remarked, "We are building a strong foundation to expanding our services to Korea. Coming on the heels of our successes at the largest SME fair in Korea last October, we held product demonstrations and in-depth discussions with several business owners and entrepreneurs interested in using Liansuo.com's services in Korea. They recognized the potential for ChinaNet to help them growth their businesses, not only domestically but in new markets such as China as well. We will follow up with these prospects over the next few weeks in hopes of converting them into ChinaNet customers."

Organized by the Korean Association of Chain Management, one of the largest trade organizations for franchise owners in South Korea, the Korean Chain Industry Fair is designed to facilitate growth and innovation among its members. More than 100 of franchise owners attended this year's event, the Fair has been held by KOREA TRADE-INVESTMENT PROMOTION AGENCY, which was founded in 1962. Liansuo.com was the only advertising and brand management service provider invited to participate in the event.  

About ChinaNet Online Holdings, Inc.

The Company, a parent company of ChinaNet Online Media Group Ltd., incorporated in the BVI ("ChinaNet"), is a leading B2B (business to business) Internet technology company focusing on providing O2O (online to offline) sales channel expansion service for small businesses (or so-called small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in China) and entrepreneurial management and LINK service for entrepreneurs in China. The Company, through certain contractual arrangements with operating companies in the PRC, provides Internet advertising and other services for Chinese small businesses via its portal websites, 28.com, Liansuo.com and Chuangye.com (for entrepreneurs' Linking services), TV commercials and program production via China-Net TV, and in-house LCD advertising on banking kiosks targeting Chinese banking patrons. Website: http://www.chinanet-online.com.

Safe Harbor

This release contains certain "forward-looking statements" relating to the business of ChinaNet Online Holdings, Inc., which can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "estimates" or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, including business uncertainties relating to government regulation of our industry, market demand, reliance on key personnel, future capital requirements, competition in general and other factors that may cause actual results to be materially different from those described herein as anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. Certain of these risks and uncertainties are or will be described in greater detail in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements are based on ChinaNet's current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects on the company. There can be no assurance that future developments affecting ChinaNet will be those anticipated by ChinaNet. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties (some of which are beyond the control of the Company) or other assumptions that may cause actual results or performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. ChinaNet undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.

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         Ted Haberfield, President

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         Email: thaberfield@mzgroup.us

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