Motorola Inc, the world's second-largest wireless telephone maker, is vowing to hold on to its position as the largest mobile phone marketer in China.

"We will continue to reduce costs and stick to technology innovations to further enhance our competitiveness," said Gene Delaney, executive vice-president of Motorola.

Delaney was appointed board chairman of Motorola (China) Electronics Ltd in August.

"We are going to introduce about 17 to 22 new handsets into the Chinese market in the later half of this year and next year," he said in an interview with China Daily.

The executive also said he expects the telephone equipment giant to improve its position by increasing its investments in local design and engineering programmes, and by stepping up distribution through intensified co-operation with its partners.

Motorola posted a quarterly profit in July, but its sales have slipped and it has been reeling in the face of intense competition in the Chinese phone market.

A slowdown in demand for mobile phones has been exacerbated by tougher conditions in Asia, where the SARS outbreak took its toll and increased rivalries with Chinese phone makers have hurt sales.

China accounted for about 14 percent of Motorola's sales last year.

Delaney said Motorola's third-generation (3G) wireless communications strategies will be so-called end-to-end telecommunications services, to include network infrastructure, data applications and terminals.

(China Daily September 11, 2003)