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Powering up in Beijing
Big-name computer and appliance makers will highlight this year's IT festival in Beijing's Zhongguancun area, where high-tech firms flock.
Called the Third Zhongguancun IT Festival, the event began on May 9 and will go through Sunday. It is part of the China (Beijing) International High-tech Industries Week of 2000.
The fair is no small deal, and nor is the venue, organizers and city officials say.
"This festival is no longer a local computer show,'' said Zhang Mao, vice-mayor of Beijing. "It is the communication, exhibition and innovation centre for the most advanced information techniques of domestic IT companies.'' .
Unlike the previous two fairs, the third one includes a broader range of products. The exhibitors will not only introduce hardware and software products, but also Internet services.
The exhibitors include hardware and software makers Legend, Stone, Founder and Start as well as household appliances giants Haier and TCL. New products from Legend and Highly Software will also be introduced, and 30 Web portals will send in representatives.
The number of Chinese Web surfers is small compared with China's population, so websites at the fair will offer free on-line services for visitors and try to attract more users.
Speeches, investment symposiums, an intellectual property rights week, an IT personnel job fair and government procurement through public bidding will also take place.
The festival is sponsored by the Zhongguancun Sci-tech Zone Administration Committee and Beijing's Haidian District.
Sponsors believe Zhongguancun is no longer a place name, but a brand for Beijing's high-tech industry. They want to introduce Zhongguancun to the world via the on-going high-tech week and the festival.
Legend, Founder, Stone and 73 universities, including the prestigious Beijing University and Qinghua University, are all located in Zhongguancun.
Bolstered by the municipal government, the area's economy has grown by about 30 per cent a year for the last decade. Eighteen of its companies have gone public in Chinese or overseas stock markets.
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