Langchao Group, China's biggest server manufacturer and supplier of related solutions, signed a global strategic partnership agreement with US-based Microsoft Tuesday in Jinan, capital city of east China's Shandong Province.

Under the accord, cooperation between the two will cover software R&D (research and development), technical training, solution customization, enterprise management and international cooperation programs.

Sun Pishu, president of Langchao Group based in Jinan city, said that cooperating with a world industry leader such as Microsoft, his company will be able to meet requirements of IT (information technology) application in China and sharpen the competitive edge of its products.

Tim Chen, Microsoft's vice-president and CEO for Greater China region, said Microsoft attached great importance to the Chinese market. He said Microsoft was committed to growing together with China's IT industry. Microsoft hopes to facilitate the local information sector to go global by working with the first-class players like Langchao, he added.

Tim Chen acknowledged that Microsoft would continue to enhance its cooperation with local governments and partners in China and help the nation expand its software economy.

Vice Information Industry Minister Gou Zhongwen spoke highly about the partnership between Microsoft and Langchao. He said he believes that to make China's IT industry, and the software sector in particular, more powerful, it is imperative to draw influential multinationals to invest in the nation in a more profound manner, he said.