For its part, Baidu has only just started its expansion outside China with its Hao123 directory listings site in Vietnam and Thailand.

BBC: Business

Born in Hangzhou in 1964, Ma first made a name for himself with his idea to start an online directory called "China Pages, " widely regarded to be China's first internet-based company.

CNN: Jack Ma Talkasia Transcript

He went overseas and won long-term contracts from directory publishers in the U.K. and China, using proceeds to help finance new plants in both places.

FORBES: Companies, People, Ideas

The China Internet Network Information Center, which answers to China's Ministry of Information Industry, controls the master "directory" of ".cn" Web sites.

MSN: An explanation of Google's moves in China