Japan, China Forge Internet Research Link

In line with Sino-Japanese cooperation on
technological developments, Japan’s Nihon
Net Research Foundation and the China Internet Research Foundation
recently agreed to share research, engage in joint projects and exchange
personnel.

Nihon Net Research Foundation is a non-profit think tank that includes such
prominent Japanese companies as Tokyu Corp., Mitsubishi Corp., Mitsubishi
Research Institute, Tokyo Telecommunication Network Co. Inc., and Creative Link Corp.

China Internet Corp., which is also the
only foreign member of the Nihon Foundation, established the China Internet
Research Foundation in early November.

“China Internet Research Foundation is a nonprofit organization which has
been established to promote scientific excellence, generate employment
opportunities, competitiveness and work in partnership with the government
and business community in advancing Internet development in the greater
China region,” said Ellen O’Gorman, public relations manager for China
Internet Corp.

Peter Yip, vice chairman of China Internet Corp, said the link between the
foundations promotes cross-border exchange of information in Asia and works
as a “forum to bring government, commercial and academic elements together
to develop the Internet.”

The two foundations plan to eventually co-develop an Asian Internet
Research Foundation that will develop alternatives to US technology for
regional markets.

“With the foundations, we can do a lot of experimental projects,” said K.
Yuki Sanekata, president of Creative Link. “With this foundation, China,
Japan and Asia together can make a good business model where we don’t have
to copy America or follow America.”

The establishment of the China Internet Research Foundation and its
affiliation with its sister foundation in Japan is consistent with a
declared policy of the Chinese government to examine the Japanese model of
technological achievement.

During Chinese President Jiang Zemin’s recent visit to Japan, a Chinese
government source of the South China Morning Post reported that,
“President Jiang will take a personal look at the viability of the Japanese
model which has had a tremendous influence on Chinese modernization.”