
BEIJING, Jan. 9 -- China's country code domain ".cn" is now the world's most commonly used.
It had 16.36 million users by the end of last year, topping Germany's ".de," according to data released on Friday by the China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC), which manages the domain.
The .cn domain is also world leading in domain resolution service, security and the ratio of benign uses, said CNNIC head Li Xiaodong.
As China began to require real-name registration in 2009, the .cn domain is able to protect users' interests and reduce online theft, phishing and fraud, Li said.
The domain is not only widely used by Chinese institutions and companies but also by overseas institutions and multinationals, according to the CNNIC.
It is used by all central and provincial governments in China and most telecom companies and commercial banks. Multinationals including Apple Inc., Microsoft, Samsung and Amazon own .cn domain names.
"Rent me as your girlfriend!"
World's first 'underwater skyscraper'
Top 10 weapons in the world in 2015
Are these the world’s scariest landing strips?
In pics: Left behind children in China
Eight modern day engineering marvels of China
Chinese beauty with sexiest bottom
Charming female bodybuilders of Chengdu University
Polish sports stars strip off for risqué calendar
Top 20 hottest women in the world in 2014
Top 10 hardest languages to learn
10 Chinese female stars with most beautiful faces
China’s Top 10 Unique Bridges, Highways and Roads
House of fakes
Internet + cars = a long, bumpy road
Nuclear test won't change NK’s destiny
China’s circuit breaker mechanism sparks global market fluctuationsDay|Week