The United Nations will only use simplified Chinese characters after 2008, the Beijing Morning Post said today, citing linguists.

The UN is currently using both versions of Chinese characters -- simplified characters and the original complex form. But the UN has decided to rule out the complex form after 2008, said Chen Zhangtai, chief of the Chinese academy of practical linguistics.

Another noted linguist, 100-year-old Zhou Youguang, also said the UN is preparing to use only simplified characters in all its Chinese files, as it is unnecessary to employ two kinds of characters.

"Meanwhile, the number of people learning Chinese is rising due to China's increased international influence," he said. "This will also make simplified characters the unique criterion of Chinese speakers gradually."

Experts also said simplified characters are also spreading among overseas Chinese people. Although the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government hasn't issued a special policy, it is popularizing simplified characters. In Taiwan, a number of people are also using simplified characters.

Chinese ranked second in the world's most widely used languages in 2005, the Post said.