Intel Corporation Chief Executive Officer Craig Barrett urged Northeast China to use information technology (IT) to transform and advance the region's competitiveness in an expanding global digital economy.

In a speech recently before business, government and education leaders in Shenyang, Barrett said deploying and maintaining a modern IT infrastructure will improve efficiency and employee productivity, provide access to new markets, and promote long-term economic growth. To achieve a more prosperous future, Barrett said Northeast China will need to invest in its computing and communications infrastructure, government policies, research and development programs, and education.

To illustrate Intel's belief in Northeast China's future, Barrett pointed to a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Neusoft Group Ltd., one of China's leading software solution providers. The MOU outlines the companies' plans to establish a Beijing Solution Innovation Center and a Shenyang Product Research Laboratory. These facilities will focus on building a trusted computing environment, developing key technologies for the next-generation Internet, and supporting the modernization of the region's manufacturing industry.

In an indirect reference to the company's ongoing negotiations with the Chinese government over the controversial WAPI standard, Barrett commented that to accelerate the deployment of a robust technology infrastructure and realize price-to- performance benefits, open architectures, international standards and cross-platform software are key to new IT solutions. "The fastest way to move into the rapidly growing digital economy is to adopt standards, which will enable government and businesses to maximize their investments and obtain industry-leading performance at lower cost and with greater choice," he said.