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More than 300 business leaders, professionals from the information and communications technology industry and media representatives on the Mainland and from overseas attended a reception held in Beijing last night (October 21) to launch the full Mainland marketing activities for the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) TELECOM WORLD 2006.
The Vice-Minister of Information Industry of the Central People's Government, Mr Jiang Yaoping, and Hong Kong's Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology, Mr John Tsang, officiated at the event.
Speaking at the reception, Mr Tsang said that since Hong Kong was awarded the right to host the TELECOM WORLD 2006, a series of promotional activities had been launched in support of the ITU's marketing efforts, riding on major international information and communications technology events.
"We are making steady progress in our preparation. We are pleased to note that a large number of overseas and Mainland industry leaders have already indicated their interest in taking part in the event," Mr Tsang said.
"We expect to see a strong turnout of Chinese companies at TELECOM WORLD 2006. We also expect a strong contingent of Mainland media as well in covering and disseminating news of the event."
Mr Tsang also took the opportunity to brief guests on the enormous business opportunities to be brought about by ITU TELECOM WORLD 2006, and invited them to Hong Kong to participate in the prestigious international event.
The reception was jointly hosted by the Ministry of Information Industry (MII) of the Central People's Government and the Commerce, Industry and Technology Bureau, and sponsored by Hong Kong's Information Services Department.
Earlier in Beijing, Mr Tsang visited the exhibition booth set up by the Hong Kong Government at the PT/WIRELESS & NETWORKS COMM CHINA 2005 to promote the ITU TELECOM WORLD 2006.
PT/WIRELESS & NETWORKS COMM CHINA 2005, held from October 18 to 22, is sponsored by the MII and the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade. It is one of the largest exhibitions in information and telecommunications products and services in Asia.
The ITU TELECOM WORLD 2006 will be held from December 4 to 8, 2006 in Hong Kong. It is the first time the event will have been held outside Geneva, where the ITU is based.
Organised by the ITU, a United Nations special agency, ITU TELECOM WORLD is the most prominent global telecommunications event held every three to four years. Hong Kong previously hosted two ITU regional events - ITU Telecom Asia 2000 and ITU Telecom Asia 2002.
The event comprises two parts - the exhibition and the forum. The exhibition enables industry players to showcase their latest equipment, services or technologies, while the forum provides a platform for participants to debate critical issues on policies and regulation, key technologies, business applications and environment.
It is estimated that the ITU TELECOM WORLD 2006 will attract an estimated 100,000 overseas visitors, generating about $1.2 billion of direct economic benefit to Hong Kong.
Ends/Saturday, October 22, 2005
Issued at HKT 11:27
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