Wu Bangguo, chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress, delivers a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the World Telecom 2006 of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in Hong Kong, south China, on Dec. 3, 2006.  (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery >>>

Related: World Telecom 2006 opens, China's top lawmaker delivers speech

    BEIJING, Dec. 4 -- The opening ceremony of the ITU Telecom World 2006 has been held in Hong Kong.

    The expo is organized by the International Telecommunication Union. And it will be held from Monday through Friday this week. China's top legislator, Wu Bangguo, delivered the keynote speech during ceremonies on Sunday. He pledged to enhance telecommunications cooperation with all nations.

    This is the first time in 35 years that the exposition has been staged outside Geneva, the headquarters of the ITU.

    Attending the opening ceremony held in the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center, Wu Bangguo, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, delivered a keynote speech at the opening ceremony.

    Wu extended congratulations to Telecom World 2006 and welcomed all event participants. Wu also thanked the ITU for selecting Hong Kong as the venue for the exposition.

    Wu Bangguo said that Hong Kong has many exceptional advantages in developing an ICT industry. Wu noted that Hong Kong has many ICT talents, a healthy legal system and it is the premier gateway to the vast market of the Chinese mainland.

    Wu said China will stick to the opening up policy and enhance cooperation with all countries in the sector of information and communication technology (ICT).

    ITU Secretary General Yoshio Utsumi, Muhamad Tunus, winner of Nobel peace prize 2006, and Donald Tsang, chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region also spoke at the ceremony.

    Before the opening ceremony, Wu Bangguo held talks with senior officials of the ICT and the CEOs of leading participating international companies. He also visited a number of exhibition booths, including the Hong Kong and China Pavilions, which occupy an area of more than 25-hundred meters.

    In the afternoon, Wu Bangguo met with leading officials of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in Hong Kong and representatives of mainland-invested companies.

    Wu fully confirmed their effective work for Hong Kong's stability and prosperity.

    He hoped all officials and workers will do a good job to welcome the opening of the 17th

    National Congress of the CPC and the 10th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to China.

    Later, Wu Bangguo met with Edmund Ho Hau Wah, chief executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region.

    Wu heard Ho's report on Macao's recent developments and spoke highly of Ho's work and the MSAR government.

(Source: CCTV.com)