Friday, February 28, 2003
Microsoft to share secret software codes with China
Press Trust of India Beijing, February 28
Microsoft chairman Bill Gates, currently on a visit to China, said that his company would share source code of computer software with the communist giant, as part of a new co-operation project.
Gates disclosed the new venture to Chinese President Jiang Zemin during a meeting in Beijing, the official Xinhua news agency reported.
"Gates briefed Jiang about Microsoft's investment in China and its latest co-operation in sharing source code of computer software," it said.
Jiang said China welcomes Microsoft Corporation and other well-known global companies to invest in China and seek common growth.
He said that China would always observe an open policy regarding developing the information technology industry, and was ready to strengthen co-operation with global advanced technology companies and seek common development.
Bill Gates also said that Microsoft's Research Centre in Beijing had proved a success, and that his company would team up with Chinese computer makers to produce more new products.
During a meeting with Liu qi, secretary of the Beijing Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), he pledged to co-operate more with Beijing in e-government and software sales.
Liu said the city government wants to work more closely with Microsoft over the Chinese capital's software industry.
Liu, also a member of the Political bureau of the CPC Central Committee, said Beijing was home to the greatest number of software talents in China and regarded software sector as one of its backbone industries.
One of China's four public sector banks, the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) signed an agreement with Microsoft (China) Ltd. To co-operate on the ICBC's security system for its online private banking network and other related IT systems.
According to the agreement, the two sides will fully develop their respective interests in jointly promoting the development of the ICBC's online private banking business.
A spokesman for the ICBC said that the bank planned to build a modernised private financial service system focusing on private banking while developing asset-liability service and intermediate service.
He said Microsoft would help the bank design and optimise security standards for on-line private banking and create a safe on-line system.
The ICBC will adopt Microsoft's corporate-oriented products in its online banking system to provide value-added services for clients.
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