Sony has pledged to continue to increase its investment in China's economic hub, further enhancing local research and development, and building a brand to help fuel its global growth.

More than 70 of the Japanese company's top executives, including chairman and group chief executive officer Nobuyuki Idei, and Sony Corp President Kunitake Ando, flew to Shanghai last week to discuss Sony's development strategy for China. Their presence demonstrated the importance the company is attaching to the fast growing Chinese market.

The company announced it would add US$200 million of fresh investment in China in fiscal year 2004 (ending on March 31, 2005). This brings its total investment in the Chinese mainland to US$1.1 billion. With continued investment, the company plans to integrate its seven manufacturing facilities into three regional design and manufacturing platforms. The North China platform will specialize in the design and manufacture of mobile equipment. The East China platform will focus on digital video products, IT and games. The South China platform will concentrate on audio/video products and components.