by Xinhua writers Ren Haijun, Liu Hong

    LAS VEGAS, United States, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese companies have contributed greatly to the development of global consumer electronics industry, an expert with the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) told Xinhua in a recent interview.

    "The innovation that the Chinese companies have brought to manufacture of consumer electronic devices is really a vital component of successful CE (Consumer Electronics) industry around the world," said Jason Oxman, senior vice president of industry affairs for the CEA, the organizer of the 2010 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES).

    The 2010 International CES kicked off here on Thursday with more than 2,500 exhibitors unveiling their latest technology innovations. Over 300 Chinese companies, including Haier, Hisense and Lenovo, will display their products at the show.

    Oxman said that the Chinese companies had intimately participated in the consumer electronics industry, a truly global industry, and focused on what they could do best.

    "The Chinese companies play such an important role in the manufacturing of equipment and technology that without them and the innovative approach they've introduced into the consumer electronic supply chain, many of the most popular products in the world will not be available in the volume they are available to the consumers," he said.

    Zhou Houjian, Hisense's chairman of board of directors, will take the stage at the show to deliver a keynote address with Microsoft's Steve Ballmer, Ford's Alan Mulally, Intel's Paul Otellini as well as Nokia's Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo.

    It is the first time in history that the president of a China-based company will deliver a keynote address at the CES.

    "It really demonstrates the important role that the Chinese consumer electronics companies play around the world," Oxman said.

    The CEA estimated that over 700 billion U.S. dollars of consumer electronic products were sold around the world in 2009 and some 100 billion dollars of that was in the Chinese market alone.

    "Very significant portion of consumer electronic industry worldwide is counting on consumers in China to buy their products," Oxman said.

    The expert also said that access to innovative manufacturing technology was one of the most significant advantages that the Chinese companies had in participating in the consumer electronic industry.

    "That means the Chinese companies not only can make their own products, but in many circumstances they make products for other companies. And that is a significant benefit to the global consumer electronic industry," he continued.

    According to Oxman, one of the disadvantages that many Chinese consumer electronics companies have is that they are not long known around the world. "Some companies, though they are large in China, are not as great outside of the Chinese market."

    Oxman also expected a significant recovery in the consumer electronics industry in 2010.

    "Looking forward to 2010, the economic recovery will provide consumers more spending power. And we expect they will continue tobuy technology that they love so much."

    Oxman also said 3D TV, a great technology that brings the three dimensional movie experiences into living room, will be the hottest topic at the show.

    The CEA estimates that 2.2 million 3D TV sets will be sold in 2010 and that by 2013 more than 25 percent of all televisions sold will be 3D TVs.