SHANGHAI, Jan. 24 (Xinhuanet) -- The Dutch publisher VNU announcedhere Sunday it would begin strategic cooperation with the Shanghai Media Group (SMG), a broadcasting, Television, newspaper and Internet company.

    VNU will work with SMG in database development and marketing, aiming to expand the Chinese commercial information market by taking advantage of the resources and experience of each.

    The Dutch company has business in Europe and the United States,but has not set foot in China, which owns the biggest and fast-growing publishing market in the world, said Ruud Bakker, president of VNU's Europe Media Group.

    Li Ruigang, president of SMG, said he believed the collaboration and its own ample media resources and large audiencewill facilitate its entrance into magazine publishing.

    VNU publishes trade magazines including Billboard, AdWeek and the Hollywood Reporter, and owns the Nielsen television-ratings service and the AC Nielsen market-research unit.

    SMG owns video and audio programs and broadcasting and TV channels. It is entering newspaper and magazine publishing. Enditem