Sichuan Changhong Electric Co., China's biggest TV set producer, signed a strategic multimedia cooperation agreement Sunday with Microsoft of the United States.

Changhong seeks to consolidate its market share in China's multimedia market, making use of Microsoft information technology and software products.

Microsoft said that cooperation with Changhong will not be limited multimedia, but that the partners would explore possibilities for expanded cooperation in other fields as well.

Changhong sold more than 12 million TV sets in 2003, accounting for 16 percent of China's TV market. It has set up partnerships with such world-famous companies as Toshiba, Sanyo and Philips to upgrade its technology development capabilities and avoid disputes over intellectual property rights.

(Xinhua News Agency June 28, 2004)