China signs with Pacific Telecommunications Council

World IT Report, Apr 9, 2003

Hawaii-based Pacific Telecommunications Council (PTC) announced a "breakthrough agreement" that will result in China's support of PTC events in China and throughout the Pacific Rim.

In a landmark meeting in Beijing last week, PTC President Eiji Hayashi of Japan and Executive Director Hoyt Zia met with Minister Wu Jichuan and other Chinese officials at the Ministry of Information Industry (MII).

During the meeting, Deputy Director General Qu Wenchu of the Department of Foreign Affairs spoke on behalf of the MII in expressing China's willingness to support PTC activities in China, to send its senior officials to speak at PTC conferences and seminars, and to encourage its citizens to participate in PTC events and become members.

For its part, PTC agreed to adopt "Chinese Taipei" (the nomenclature used by many other international organizations such as APEC) or "Taiwan, China" in place of designations such as "Taiwan" or "Republic of China."

"This breakthrough could not have come at a better time for China and PTC," said Zia. "China's infocom industry is poised for phenomenal growth because of the communications needs of that nation's 1.3 billion people."

"In addition, China, like every nation, must address the significant policy and regulatory challenges presented by this growth and the rapidly changing advances in communications technology. Naturally, this will have tremendous implications for companies interested in doing business in China. And, PTC's international membership offers unique educational and networking opportunitiesincluding an annual membership conference in Honoluluthat will allow PTC members and China to learn from each other."

PTC has invited Minister Wu to deliver a keynote speech at PTC's next membership meeting scheduled to be held at the Hilton Hawaiian Village next January in Honolulu, and is looking forward to having major players from China's telecommunications industry and government attend as well.

PTC, headquartered in Honolulu, Hawaii, is an international, non- profit, non-governmental membership organization that brings together in a single forum both the providers and users of communication services.