Microsoft Seeking China Search Partner

REDMOND, Washington (TheStreet) -- Microsoft(MSFT) is looking for a Chinese partner to help make the software maker a major player in China's Internet-search market, the Wall Street Journal reports.

Simon Leung, Microsoft's CEO for greater China, told the newspaper the company plans to invest $100 million in Chinese companies, and could make further investments.

Leung said Microsoft will target companies in sectors including software, cloud computing and possibly gaming. He wouldn't elaborate on the timing, the Journal says.

Microsoft also is seeking approval from China to sell its Xbox games console in the country, Leung told the Journal.

Leung wouldn't name any possible joint-venture partners for search, the newspaper reports.

"Definitely, our goal is to be No. 1 in the market" as measured by the amount of searches handled, Leung said, the Journal reports.

-- Written by Joseph Woelfel

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