"China is the most important market in Asia, and more and more of our members have working relations with Chinese IT companies, this is why we are focusing on China now," said a vice president of the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) in Beijing Friday.

Bob Kramer, CompTIA vice president of global public policy, announced at a press conference held in Beijing Friday that as the first step to enter the Chinese market, CompTIA opened a new office in Hong Kong recently, which will primarily focus on expanding CompTIA's public policy outreach in the Asia-Pacific region.

CompTIA is a global trade association representing the business interests of the information technology industry. For 22 years, CompTIA has provided research, networking and partnering opportunities to its more than 19,000 members in 89 countries and regions.

The association is involved in developing standards and best practices, and influencing the political, economic and educational arenas that impact IT worldwide, said Kramer.

Michael Mudd, who will direct the Hong Kong office operation for CompTIA, said that CompTIA is planning to cooperate with Chinese authorities and relevant IT organizations and associations on information technology training and education, technology licensing and developing standards.

With China's rising E-commerce sector in recent years, Kramer said China plays an important role in the global E-commerce market.

(Xinhua News Agency March 21, 2004)