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)