Lenovo Group and software giant Microsoft signed an agreement Thursday to strengthen their partnership, giving a boost to the US firm's efforts to promote the use of legal copies of its software in China.

According to the agreement, the two companies will step up their cooperation in technological innovation, pre-installation of Microsoft's operating systems on Lenovo computers, services and marketing campaigns.

"Our acquisition of IBM's personal computer unit has pushed Lenovo's cooperation with Microsoft to a new height," said Liu Jun, soon-to-be co-chief operating officer of the new Lenovo Group, formed by the existing Lenovo and IBM's personal computer division, which was sold to the Chinese computer maker in December.

Tim Chen, vice-president of Microsoft and CEO of Microsoft China, said the partnership is not a continuation of their previous co-operation, but one on a much broader and deeper scale.

Lenovo said it will install Windows XP operating systems on all its product families depending on the needs of customers.

Microsoft will also open some of its basic technologies to Lenovo to allow the latter to develop value-added solutions, while the Chinese company will provide its own and its customers' feedback to the software giant to help it improve its next-generation operating systems.

They will also co-organize marketing campaigns to promote the use of legal copies of Microsoft software through sales promotions, training, and the improvement of distribution channels.

(China Daily April 1, 2005)