As part of the second ASEAN-China Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Business Week, the ASEAN-China ICT Business Forum opened Tuesday in George Town, capital city of Penang state in northern Malaysia, providing a platform for industry players to discuss issues of common interest in this field.

 

About 100 delegates from China and member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) involved in the ICT industry attended the forum held in George Town.

 

During the two-day forum, delegates are expected to exchange views on a wide range of issues covering ICT investment, foreign trade polices, ICT technology standards, human resources development and capacity building.

 

Secretary-General of China Association of Communication Enterprises Zhang Chunlin made remarks at the opening ceremony on behalf of the Chinese companies, research institutions and associations which sent representatives for the forum.

 

Ever since the ICT field was established as one of the five major fields of cooperation between China and ASEAN in the year 2001, bilateral exchanges and cooperation in the ICT industry have leapfrogged, said Zhang, who also expressed his belief this business forum will further strengthen the ties and promote common development and prosperity of China and ASEAN.

 

The Chinese delegation comprises of representatives from many leading companies in the ICT industry, including China Telecom, Huawei Technology and Datang Telecom Technology and Industry Group Corporation, to name just a few.

 

During the second business week themed "Strategic Regional ICT Cooperation for Growth and Prosperity," other programs coming on the agenda include ASEAN-China ICT Senior Officials and Business Forum Consultative Meetings, ASEAN-China ICT Ministerial Dialogue with Business Forum and ASEAN-China ICT Ministerial Forum.

 

(Xinhua News Agency April 19, 2006)