China Telecom (Europe) Ltd. on Thursday said it would expand its Asian-European services, aiming to increase its market share in Europe.

"Our vision is to create a 21st-century high speed information silk road uniting the business minds of the East and the West," said Du An, managing director of China Telecom (Europe) Ltd. at a business seminar in London.

As part of China Telecom's global strategy, China Telecom (Europe) Ltd., which was established in 2006, primarily assists Chinese enterprises to expand their business in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Du said.

The company provides superb European-Asian telecommunications solutions, he added.

At present, the company is operating three international network nodes in Europe, in London, Frankfurt and Stockholm respectively, and has two offices in Frankfurt and Moscow.

It is to open its Middle East office in Dubai at the end of this year, Du said.

"China Telecom was the first Chinese telecommunications operator investing in Europe. Its total investment in Europe is 15 million pounds (US$24 million), " said Brian Shaw, UK Trade & Investment's business group managing director.

Over 370 Chinese companies, including telecommunications companies like China Telecom, China Mobile and China Netcom, have set up their branches or offices in Britain.

Meanwhile, Britain is the largest European Union investor in China and over 6,000 Britain-funded projects have been built in the country with a combined value of over US$15 billion.

(Xinhua News Agency October 24, 2008)