Posted on 06/27/2002 5:12:01 AM PDT by GeneD
BEIJING, June 27 (Reuters) - Software giant Microsoft Corp (nasdaq: MSFT - news - people) announced by far the biggest Sino-foreign software tie-up on Thursday, saying it would invest $750 million in China over the next three years.
Redmond, Washington-based Microsoft signed a memorandum of understanding with China's powerful State Development Planning Commission (SDPC) during a two-day visit by chief executive Steve Ballmer to a market which has often confounded his firm.
No further details on the $750 million investment were immediately available.
But Microsoft also announced a separate 200 million yuan ($24.15 million) three-year investment in Chinese educational and research institutions, plus a $480,000 investment to set up a software college in Shanghai.
"Microsoft has a long-term approach to its commitment to China and this is reflected in our strategic investments," Ballmer said in a statement.
"This wider range of investments and cooperative agreements is designed to support both China's locally-owned software industry and its intellectual property," he said.
Software piracy is rampant in China and Microsoft has long complained that a lack of enforcement of intellectual property rights has stunted the development of a home-grown software industry.
The company has also provoked the ire of some in China with its aggressive anti-piracy efforts, as well as its policy of charging the same price for software no matter how rich or poor the market.
Ballmer was joined at a signing ceremony on Thursday for the smaller research and educational investment by 18 other Microsoft executives and officials from China's Ministry of Education, including Vice Minister of Education Zhao Qinping.
"The centerpiece of the plan is really about supporting the software colleges recently established at over 35 universities," Ballmer said.
The same China that we complain about their human rights?
The same China that is building up their Military?
The same China that is sending missles to our Arab friends.
The same China who supports the same child labor we are fighting against?
OOPs! I forgot cheap labor is the name of the game for our patriotic American corps.
Only an American who is sleeing around the clock would reason with this!
OK, I don't see the problem here....I mean, China is a peaceful nation. They'll invest this 750 million in infrastrucure for the people, and roadways, and education for people to learn and advance their standards of living. It's not like they would spend 750 million on missiles, jet aircraft, ships, submarines and space technology and ignore their citizens! (/heavy sarcasm)
China is doomed if Gates has his way.
Resistance is futile. They will be assimilated.
I'll clarify that statement by saying. China High Jacks planes by using their military pilots to force them down by flying into them while in flight. The date is 2002! I don't have the exact time. I hope you didn't miss this event. It was in every News Paper in the nation. You may have another name for this but, to me that's High Jacking.
Name a major nation in this world that isn't doing that!
Sorry, I was thinking at the time and, I should have added the following.
Building up the military to attack Taiwan. They may never do this but, it's no big secret our defense department is getting the same signals from the Chinese. I'm sure you'll hear about this more as time goes.
Microsoft needs cheeper software engineers.
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