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Victoria Odinotska
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Matthews Asia Launches China Dividend Fund

San Francisco, CA, Nov. 30, 2009—Matthews International Capital Management, LLC, advisor to the Matthews Asia Funds, announced the expansion of its fund lineup today to include a new portfolio dedicated exclusively to investing in Chinese dividend-paying companies.

The Matthews China Dividend Fund will seek to invest in the equity and convertible securities of companies that are well-positioned to grow future dividends while providing an attractive dividend yield. Managed by Jesper Madsen, CFA, and co-managed by Richard Gao, the Fund offers investors an opportunity to participate in China's potential growth through a total return dividend-focused strategy. Jesper Madsen is also the lead manager of the Matthews Asia Dividend Fund* and Richard Gao is the lead manager of the Matthews China and Pacific Tiger Funds.

"Asia and China, in particular, are becoming increasingly important components to strategic investment decisions for many investors," said Robert Horrocks, PhD, Matthews' Chief Investment Officer. "For most investors, there is only one way to access these markets: through a growth strategy. And yet, by comparison, we find a wide breadth of U.S. investment strategies. We believe that, similarly, there is more than one way to invest in Chinese equity markets. Strategy matters."

In designing the Matthews China Dividend Fund, Matthews noted that Asia Pacific has evolved into one of the premier regions for investors seeking growing dividends and yield. Over the past decade, the universe of dividend-paying companies in Asia Pacific—and in particular China—has expanded significantly, allowing Matthews to offer a second dividend-focused investment strategy in the region. Dividends in Asia Pacific have risen five-fold during the last decade; meanwhile dividends from Chinese companies (listed in Hong Kong, B-share and offshore markets) grew from US$8 billion in 1998 to more than US$70 billion by 2008.

"The bulk of the growth in China's dividends stems mostly from large, state-owned enterprises that have been listed during the past decade," said Jesper Madsen. "These companies, unlike most U.S. IPOs, are ‘mature' companies that pay dividends from day one. As a result, China has become one of the largest and fastest-growing markets in Asia in terms of dividend payments, making a diversified and scalable dividend investment strategy in China possible. We've been investing in dividend growing companies across Asia Pacific for the past three years in the Matthews Asia Dividend Fund and the Matthews China Dividend Fund is an extension of the same stock selection process employed exclusively to China. We're pleased to offer the China Dividend Fund as a means to participate in this important evolution to China's capital markets."

*To better reflect its investment objective, the Fund's name changed from Matthews Asia Pacific Equity Income Fund to Matthews Asia Dividend Fund on November 30, 2009.

There is no guarantee that the Matthews China Dividend Fund or the Matthews Asia Dividend Fund or the companies in their portfolios will pay or continue to pay dividends.

About Matthews
At Matthews, we believe in the long-term growth of Asia. Since 1991, we have focused our efforts and expertise exclusively within the region, investing through a variety of market environments. As an independent, privately owned firm, Matthews is the largest dedicated Asia-only investment specialist in the United States. Our investment offerings provide a broad range of choices for building a global portfolio that includes exposure to one of the world’s fastest-growing regions. With over $10 billion in assets under management as of October 31, 2009, Matthews employs a bottom-up, fundamental investment philosophy, with a focus on long-term investment performance. For more information please visit matthewsasia.com.

You should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of the Matthews Asia Funds carefully before making an investment decision. A prospectus with this information and other information about the Funds may be obtained by calling 1-800-789-ASIA or by visiting matthewsasia.com. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing as it explains the risks associated with investing in international markets.

Investing in foreign securities may involve certain additional risks, including exchange-rate fluctuations, less liquidity, greater volatility and less regulation. Single-country and sector funds may be subject to a higher degree of market risk than diversified funds because of concentration in a specific sector or geographic region.

Matthews Asia Funds are distributed by PFPC Distributors, Inc.