Eachnet, the Chinese unit of US auction site eBay, says it expects the number of professional online sellers to surge in China once it introduces a platform allowing users to begin trading directly with eBay members.

The new platform, which will link Eachnet's nearly 7 million users with eBay's 105 million users, could be established as early as this autumn.

This would not only be a big benefit for Chinese users, who will have access to a world market, but will also give global internet auctioneers access to China, where the number of internet shoppers is expected to triple next year.

The e-commerce industry is estimated to be worth 200 million US dollars in China.

But insiders think that the service will encounter initial payment, language and customs difficulties.

People in China who can speak English and overseas ethnic Chinese who can speak Chinese will probably be the first to take up this chance of cross-border trade.

(CRI September 1, 2004)