The China-ASEAN ICT (information and communication technologies) Ministerial Forum has built up a good platform for the cooperation of the ICT industry worldwide.

The remarks were made by Sun Yafang, chairman of Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. when the delegation assembled for the forum visited the company Wednesday. "We are making every effort to become a local company in all ASEAN countries, adapting ourselves into the social lives of ASEAN countries, and making the necessary contribution to ASEAN countries," she said.

The soaring sales and business deals by China's largest telecommunication equipment maker has propelled its brand into ASEAN markets, which have attracted the attention of Western competitors wary of the low-cost Chinese manufacturer staking claims in the booming ASEAN market.

Since 1999, the Shenzhen-based company has established subsidiaries or branch offices in seven ASEAN countries, including Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, the Philippines and Indonesia. There would be more than 800 staff members in ASEAN countries by the end of this year, according to a statement from Huawei.

As a major telecommunication equipment supplier in the ASEAN markets, Huawei provides a variety of telecommunication solutions -- ranging from switching, integrated access networks, next-generation networks (NGN), optical transport and intelligent networks -- for local telecommunication operators.

Huawei's total market share in ASEAN countries would reach 20 percent this year, of which mobile networks would account for 30 percent and NGN products would reach 50 percent, according to the statement.

With 55 branch offices worldwide, eight regional headquarters and a host of customer service centers, Huawei aimed to boost overseas sales to US$4 billion this year from US$2.2 billion last year.

Established in 1988, Huawei is a private high-tech enterprise which specializes in the research and development, production and marketing of communication equipment, and providing customized network solutions for telecommunication carriers in different areas. The company's current big push is in third-generation wireless networking technology.

Huawei already has a significant presence in over 90 countries and has deals with companies including Britain's British Telecom, Spain's Telefonica, the Netherland's Telefort, Singapore's SingTel, Russia's Rostelecom and Brazil's Telemar.

The company's international sales have seen impressive growth since 2001. In that year, overseas sales jumped 156 percent, and then settled to a still-substantial 68 percent in 2002 and 90 percent in 2003, before growing 117 percent last year.

(Shenzhen Daily May 19, 2005)