YouTube.com, a video website owned by Google, has formally launched its Simplified Chinese interface, marking the key step for Google's indirect entry into China's video sector.

As a foreign company, Google cannot directly launch video websites for the China market because of the limitations imposed by the laws of China, but the company does not want to give up the rapidly growing market. Therefore, YouTube has become a channel for Google's indirect participation.

In the new version of YouTube, the options of languages and countries are separated. Languages become the tools for reading the pages while the country options are for users to find local videos they are interested in. At present, YouTube Worldwide provides 20 regional channels, including Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, Spain, France, Britain, Hong Kong, Ireland, India, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Russia and Taiwan, in 15 major languages, including Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Japanese, Korean and English.

Youtube was purchased by Google in November 2006.