Indian and Chinese entrepreneurs should take the opportunity to carry out and strengthen cooperation in the information industry, said visiting Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on Thursday.
"China is one of the world leaders in hardware, and its software industry is also soaring ahead".
When speaking at a forum titled "India and China: Challenges and Opportunities in IT Sector", Vajpayee said: "IT cooperation will be a new momentum to develop bilateral ties between the two countries."
Holding that the two governments should cooperate to eliminate the digital gap, Vajpayee believed the World Olympic Games in 2008 to be held in Beijing will be a good opportunity for the cooperation of IT companies of India and China.
The one-day forum, chiefly sponsored by the National Association of Software and Service Companies of India, invited nearly 500 Chinese and Indian entrepreneurs including leading companies like TATA Consultancy Services, SATYAM Computer Services Ltd., and NIIT Ltd. They were invited to hold discussions on enhancing Sino-Indian cooperation in telecommunication, software, banking, financial service and IT education.
Last year, the first four software manufacturers and exporters of India launched their representative office and R&D center in Shanghai. By the end of April, India had invested US$7.16 million in four projects in Shanghai.
(Xinhua News Agency June 27, 2003)
