ChinaNet Online Holdings Partners With China Business Journal to Launch New Contest for Entrepreneurs

BEIJING, July 16, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ChinaNet Online Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq:CNET) (the "Company"), a leading B2B (business to business) Internet technology company focusing on providing online-to-offline ("O2O") sales channel expansion services for small and medium-sized enterprises ("SMEs") and entrepreneurial management and networking services for entrepreneurs in the People's Republic of China, today announced that the Company has partnered with China Business Journal to launch a new contest to help identify and launch businesses with good potential for growth. This strategic partnership provides exposure for ChinaNet as well as potential customers for the Company's services.

The contest, named "Discover China's Good Projects," was launched in March 2013 through China Business Journal's print and online platforms. A committee comprised of industry experts and investment evaluation experts of judges chosen by ChinaNet and China Business Journal will evaluate each project based on its business potential. ChinaNet will provide a variety of services to companies that are selected, including business model analysis, brand building, sales channel building, and market analysis. The winning projects will win the honorary title of "discovered good project in China." So far, more than 50 projects have been selected, including Chow Tai Seng Jewelry, Didi Taxi and other well-known brands.

China Business Journal, in publication since 1985, is one of the most widely distributed Mandarin and English-language weekly print publications focused on business issues in Greater China. China Business Journal has over 920,000 weekly subscribers to its magazine and over 3 million of online readers.

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 and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and entrepreneurial management and networking 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 SMEs via its portal websites, 28.com, Liansuo.com and Chuangye.com, 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.

CONTACT: MZ North America

         Ted Haberfield, President

         Tel: +1-760-755-2716

         Email: thaberfield@mzgroup.us

         Web: www.mzgroup.us

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