Google has been stepping up its efforts in China lately— for instance, signing a search-ad deal with Sina last week. Now, the search giant has received preliminary regulatory approval to provide online content in that country, according to Dow Jones Newswires. No details on what sort of content Google has in mind. Last year, Google had the “required licenses” to run Google.cn, its China site, through a joint venture with domestic Chinese site Ganji.com, because it was not allowed to offer content on its own.

SEE ALSO: Google To Add SMS Service To Search In China

Hou Tao, Beijing-based analyst, iResearch Consulting: The approval sets the “necessary and foundational conditions” for Google’s growth in China. “It provides support for future product development and marketing.”