Patricia Russo, Chairman and CEO of Lucent Technologies, has said that Lucent sees China "as an important growth area for Lucent's global businesses and an important resource center."

"Lucent's goal is to build on the success of the past and deepen the trust and confidence we enjoy with our customers and suppliers in China," Russo said in a written interview with Xinhua.

Russo, who sees China as the largest bright spot in the world, would pay a visit to China next month.

Lucent, one of the major communications firms in the United States, entered China as early as in 1985, with a total investment in China of 2.9 billion dollars so far.

Over the past two decades, it has set up in China eight regional offices, two Bell Labs branches, five R&D facilities and a number of joint ventures and wholly owned enterprises.

Lucent China manufactures a full array of telecom network equipment and solutions, including wireless, PHS networks, optical, data and services, that Lucent ships and installs in customer networks around the world.

"We see China as an important growth area for Lucent's global businesses and an important resource center," Russo said.

"By leveraging local talent, local manufacturing and integration, local sourcing, local R&D, and local services support, we are now more effectively providing products, solutions and services for our customers globally," she added.

Lucent China has hired approximately 4,000 employees, over 98 percent of them are Chinese nationals.

Lucent China's revenue in 2004 accounts for roughly 10 percent of Lucent's total, which stood at 9.05 billion dollars after eight consecutive quarters of profit, according to Bob Warstler, President of Lucent's Global Sales.

"China is a great example of where we have been successful using local resources," Russo said.

"Some of our recent wins in China demonstrate our services capabilities," Russo said.

Lucent recently clinched contracts with Gansu Telecom and Shandong Netcom, providing installation and maintenance support for a Personal Handyphone network expansion.

It also announced two significant wireless network optimization projects with Tibet Mobile and Inner Mongolia Unicom, delivering professional services to improve the performance of their wireless networks.

Source: Xinhua