IN BRIEF (Page 10)

Memorandum agreed

Shanghai's Pudong New Area, one of the fastest-growing local economies in China, has signed a memorandum of economic cooperation with Montgomery county, Maryland, US. The county is one of US' wealthiest and a top biotechnology and advanced technology cluster.

Insurer goes rural

China Life Insurance, the country's largest life insurer, will reach further into the country's rural market next year, with a focus on micro-insurance for migrant workers, farm worker pensions and health insurance, the company's top management said. "We will adjust the structure of product lines, with more emphasis on protection-oriented products," said Su Hengxuan, the company's vice-president.

Expo beats record

The Electronic Manufacturing Exposition, an annual IT gala held from Thursday until Sunday in Suzhou, Jiangsu province, has attracted more participants than ever this year, with 630 electronic manufacturers and traders attending the expo. It is co-sponsored by the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office and the Jiangsu provincial government.

Internet browser

Opera Software ASA, a leading browser developer next to Microsoft IE, Firefox and Apple Safari, will introduce a local edition of an Internet browser specially designed for the Chinese market this month. It is the first time the Norwegian company has developed a product for a single country.

China Daily

(China Daily 10/18/2008 page10)