Dalian Ready to Become IT Hub

The key port city of Northeast China will speed up the development of information technology and electrical communication in the city to enhance incoming and existing businesses.

"Solid efforts will be made to support enterprises in the sector so Dalian, one of China's major heavy chemical industrial hubs, will develop into the information technology industry (IT) centre of Northeast China," Bo Xilai, Party secretary and mayor of the city, said yesterday at the opening ceremony of 2000 Dalian International IT and Electrical Communication Expo.

More than 100 domestic enterprises in the sector attended the four-day expo to seek business and co-operative opportunities with foreign clients.

Sponsored by the municipal government and some transnational corporations, such as IBM, COMPAQ, EPSON and Hewlett Packard, the 2000 Dalian International IT Forum will be held during the expo as well.

Most of the enterprises showcased their latest products, including computers, mobile phones, home electrical appliances and various kinds of software.

The Kyocera Corporation from Japan also provided its newly produced picture mobile phone, which could serve PHS communication system.

"Dalian is full of promise to be an outstanding figure of the nation in the sector," said Song Ling, director of the Informationization Promotion Department of the Ministry of Information Industry.

The city was recently named by the central government as a Certified National Demonstration District of Electrical Commerce.





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