Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp, or SMIC, has established a 12-inch chip production line in Beijing, the first of its kind on the Chinese mainland.

The production technology is state-of-the-art up to the 0.13 micron international standard.

The first production line cost US$1.2 billion.

The world's fourth largest chip maker plans to set up two more such production lines in Beijing.

After that, SMIC will establish three 8-inch chip production lines in Shanghai.

Its total investment on the Chinese mainland will then reach US$10 billion.

(CRI September 6, 2004)