Google Seeks a Leading Role in China from the Wall Street Journal reports that Google China’s president, Kai-Fu Lee, wants Google to be a market leader in China in five years. Kai-Fu Lee said, “Certainly, we would like to aspire to be a market leader in five years.”

His plans to achieving that goal is not exactly clear; he did say Google will focus more on social and mobile features in China. Lee is still seeking social networking and mobile partnerships and acquisitions to help gain share. Lee told us this back in October, saying a redesigned Google China is necessary, and mobile is the way Google must go.

Google also invested in Shenzhen Xunlei Network Technology Ltd. to help bolster their strengths in the social networking space in China.

Google China has seen growth year-over-year in China. According to Beijing research firm Analysys International, Google saw 26% of China’s Internet search revenue in the fourth quarter, up from 17% a year earlier. But in contrast to Baidu, the current market leader, Google is a shadow. Baidu’s grew as well, year-over-year, from 60% from 58%.

More coverage can be found at Techmeme.

Related Topics: Google: Outside US

About The Author: Barry Schwartz is Search Engine Land's News Editor and owns RustyBrick, a NY based web consulting firm. He also runs Search Engine Roundtable, a popular search blog on very advanced SEM topics. Barry's personal blog is named Cartoon Barry and he can be followed on Twitter here. For more background information on Barry, see his full bio over here. See more articles by Barry Schwartz