ChinaNet Online Holdings Receives Entrepreneurial Merchandising and Franchising Marketing Industry Leader Award From China Electronic Commerce Association

BEIJING, Feb. 26, 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 received the awards of "The Most Leading Enterprise of Chinese Entrepreneurial Merchandising and Franchising Marketing Industry" and as well as "The Most Trustworthy E-Commerce Platform in Entrepreneurial Merchandising and Franchising Industry" in China by the China Electronic Commerce Association (CECA). These awards are only awarded to one enterprise in each industry.

"We are proud to receive these prestigious awards," said Mr. George Chu, COO of ChinaNet. "Our commitment and focus on driving innovation and growth in China's e-commerce industry has resulted in our increased recognition by government, business leaders as well as over 4 million small businesses community. We will continue to introduce new products and services that help franchise owners and entrepreneurs become more successful."

China Electronic Commerce Association is a national trade association approved by China'sState Council and the Ministry of Civil Affairs to promote growth and healthy development of China's e-commerce industry as well as help government in terms of regulations. Since it was founded in 2000, CECA has received strong support from China'sNational People's Congress' standing committee and the National Industry and Information Ministry.

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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