Pioneer Chinese tech entrepreneur dies
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-08-11 08:42

Chen Chunxian, one of the founding fathers of Zhongguancun, China's version of Silicon Valley, has died. He was 70.

While in his mid-forties Chen left a prestigious position in the Chinese Academy of Sciences to set up the mainland's first non-government controlled technology development company.

The firm, focusing on plasma technology, was established in 1980 at Zhongguancun, then a sleepy village surrounded by universities and research institutes in northwestern Beijing's Haidian district. Chen proposed making the area the country's Silicon Valley, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

Ji Shiying, director of the Non-governmental Entrepreneurs Association in Beijing was quoted by Xinhua saying, "Chen took the lead among Chinese technicians to start their own business and laid the foundation for 'electronic street' which has nurtured many high-tech enterprises."

Close

Who killed the kittens? Cloned cats It's still healthy

Today's Top News     Top Life News
Museum remembers reform architect Deng Xiaoping         Tight control drags down growth pace         Document aids victims seeking redress         Central bank predicts rises in house prices         'One-China' essential to ties with PIF nations         Law drafted to end Hep B discrimination	Web of moral corruption       China's largest zoo to open in Harbin       Beijing doll's pursuit of freedom       Premarital checks in sharp decline       Pioneer Chinese tech entrepreneur dies       Chinese to send 550b short messages