More than 50 of China's largest information technology firms
formed an alliance on Wednesday to strengthen their hand in the
lucrative defense market, as the Chinese military is reforming its
purchase system by adopting the practice of government
procurement.
Li Jinai, a member of the Central Military Commission and
director of the General Armament Department of the Chinese People's
Liberation Army (PLA), attended the ceremony to mark the launch of
the coalition, dubbed "The Computer World Army-Supporting Alliance
on Science and Technology".
Twelve of the prestigious firms donated IT products including
servers, personal computers, exchanges and routers to the army.
Company representatives pledged to help train IT personnel for the
military and create greater awareness about the industry among the
forces.
The establishment of the alliance is sponsored by the
Information Institute of Electronics Science and Technology under
the Chinese Ministry of Information and the Computer World Media
Group.
The move has been approved jointly by the PLA General Armament
Department, the Ministry of Information Industry, and the China
Electronics Science and Technology Group.
(Xinhua News Agency July 31, 2003)