The new facility is part of BT's ongoing investment programme in the region, aimed at delivering crucial communication services that help UK and other multinational companies succeed in their business opportunities across Asia, and help local corporations operate in other parts of the world.

As one of the world's leading providers of communications solutions and services, BT is shaping the future of business-to-business collaboration. By bringing the latest video conferencing equipment and networked IT applications all together under one roof, BT demonstrates how it enables business customers expanding in China to interact directly with the leading edge technologies and services that they already rely on elsewhere. The showcase centre also brings to life the digital networked economy for Chinese corporations that are currently investing in other parts of the world.

Vince Cable, UK Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, said

"I am delighted to see so many companies capitalising on the opportunities offered by China's development, and I hope that this week's visit will serve to open doors for more UK firms.

"BT is our oldest telecommunications company, which makes it a British icon in its own right, and this new Customer Innovation Showcase Centre in Beijing shows just how far they have come in expanding their services abroad.

The Centre will help other UK and multinational companies succeed in their business opportunities across Asia, and also help local Chinese corporations operate in other parts of the world. I hope to see it shine as a beacon of successful cutting edge technology to other investors thinking about developing their businesses in China."

Kevin Taylor, managing director of BT Asia Pacific, said:

"China is already an important market for BT and has become an increasingly strategic growth opportunity for expanding UK companies. No less than 80% of BT's largest customers by company turnover are expanding in Asia. We have a long history of investment, a strong customer base and an excellent product and solution offer in this country, the latest example of which is seen in our Customer Innovation Showcase Centre.

"By offering in China the same leading technologies and services we are reputed for in the UK, we are in the best possible position to help large UK business customers' expand into China, as well as to support our Chinese corporation increase their ability to do business outside of China."

Since entering the China market in 1995, BT has built a solid foundation reinforced by ongoing investments, including a Technology and Service Centre in Dalian, a Research & Development Centre in Beijing as well as a Procurement Delivery Centre in Shanghai. BT also has well established presence and strong capabilities across China through MDCL-Frontline and BHR Frontline.

In May 2010, BT announced a new investment programme for the Asia Pacific region, covering additional resourcing, new infrastructure and an expanded portfolio of services. As part of this plan, BT is in the process of filling around 300 new positions across the region in the key customer markets of Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Japan and Singapore. The expansion of this in-region proposition portfolio will allow BT to provide enhanced service delivery capabilities as customers invest throughout Asia Pacific.