More than three million Chinese Internet users have taken part in an online campaign by adding a red heart and "China" at the beginning of their names on MSN, a popular online communication tool, to express support for the Beijing Olympics and a love of their country, a news Website reported today.

People transmitted the message, "please add (L) China ((L) will appear as a red heart) in front of your MSN name to support the 2008 Beijing Olympics," via Internet and mobile phone short messages, Eastday.com said.

"I changed my MSN name as soon as I received the message from my friend. I also sent it to every colleague in the company. I believe every Chinese people with patriotism will take part in the campaign," Dan Dan, an office woman in Shanghai, told the Website.

An employee at a foreign-invested company surnamed Zhang told Eastday.com that: "I transmitted the message to all of my 400 colleagues and 360 changed the name without hesitation,"

The "LOVE China" campaign was initially launched on Monday by 5Sai.com, a Shanghai-based non-profit Website established by some employees of local companies for public welfare.

The 5Sai.com cast an online poll last week to collect ideas for online campaigns that could properly support the Olympics and express patriotism, the report said.

"LOVE China" was among the candidates, the report said, citing Chen Huaiyuan, the CEO of 5Sai.com.

The "LOVE China" campaign only received 160 votes among netizens, much less than other candidates, said Chen.

However, the advocator of "LOVE China" required the 5Sai Website to post the proposal on the Website for two days as a trial and the campaign became popular soon, Chen added.

The number of participants rose to one million on the first day of the campaign on Monday, the report added.

MSN.com fully understood and supported the "LOVE China" campaign, the report said, citing an official of MSN's public relations department surnamed Feng.

MSN.com will also launch similar campaigns on the Website, Feng said.

How to take part in the "Love China" campaign:

Add "(L) China" in front of your MSN name. The (L) will appear on screen as a red heart.

(Shanghai Daily April 17, 2008)