Beijing's Zhongguancun, known as China's silicon valley, will establish liaison offices in Japan and Holland next month, said officials at a conference Tuesday.

The offices, to be located in Tokyo and Amsterdam, will strengthen connections with Chinese students studying abroad and offer helpful services for those that want to start their careers back in China.

Xia Yingqi, deputy director with the Administration Committee of Zhongguancun, said that the function of the offices is to let the students know more about economic information in Beijing and also enhance ties with the Chinese people living in the local community.

The official said that since last year, about 380 companies founded by returned students have registered and got licenses in Beijing and half of these were established by those coming back from the United States.

He indicated that such liaison offices will also appear in the State of Maryland in the United States and Toronto in Canada next year.

(Xinhua News Agency 09/18/2001)