Shawn Wang teases more reporters

It seems that Baidu CFO Shawn Wang has is rapidly becoming one of the China media scene's more titillating interviews. We reported earlier today on his "no foreign acquisitions" statement on the BBC. Does this mean "yes, domestic acquisitions"?

Now, I see on China Tech Stories that "he told Xiaoxiang Morning News reporter Li Wei that Baidu is ready to move into the online e-commerce area". The report goes on to say "New e-commerce initiatives serving internet users and small and medium companies, such as online payment system, will be the next goldmine for Baidu's future growth". That would seem to take it right into the Alibaba/Alipay domain. What is this, a little pre-AliIPO needle?

The piece notes that Baidu already has partnerships with Industrial and Commerce Bank of China and eBay's Paypal while it recently hired Haoyu Sheng, currently vice-president in charge of personal card business for American Express.

The picture attached here is from Shawn Wang's official Baidu bio and it's titled there "Shawn's mischievous side". Just what we're all looking for in the CFOs of our listed companies. That's him in the red, leading a conga line of reporters in a merry dance it seems.