China hopes Microsoft could expand cooperation with Chinese partners and increase invest in and outsourcing from China, Vice Premier Zeng Peiyan said in Beijing on June 30.

The joint efforts of Microsoft and its Chinese partners to open up international and Chinese domestic markets would help push their cooperation in the software field to a new level, Zeng said during a meeting with Steve Anthony Ballmer, chief executive officer of the US-based software company.

Zeng said China has a broad market, excellent human resources and a sound industrial foundation. The Chinese government has put priority to the high-tech industry, including the software industry. Over the past few years, the cooperation between Microsoft and its Chinese partners has been satisfactory in such fields as government security planning, the opening of source code, training and technological development.

"China will further protect intellectual property rights, adopt more incentive policies and create a good environment for more software cooperation between Chinese and foreign companies," Zeng said.

Ballmer appreciated China's efforts in IPR protection, and said Microsoft attached great importance to cooperation with China and would further expand its business in China.

Source: Xinhua