Wu, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), spoke positively on the productive cooperation between Microsoft and its Chinese business partners, stressing that the cooperation on science and technology is a very important component of China-U.S. economic and trade cooperation.

"I hope the Microsoft could play a positive role in boosting China-U.S. cooperation in high-tech sector", Wu told Gates.

He said China would stick to its strategy of opening up to the outside world to achieve reciprocal and win-win results and protecting the legitimate interests of foreign investors as well as their intellectual property rights.

Gates said Microsoft considers China as a very important cooperation partner, expressing the willingness to intensify the cooperation with China and pledging to help the U.S. business people have a clear understanding of China and do more to foster the healthy development of the two-way trade relations.

In his meeting with SK Group Chairman Chey Tae Won, Wu described Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's visit to the Republic of Korea (ROK) "a big success" that significantly improved the comprehensive cooperative relationship between the two countries.

He said China and the ROK share great potential in their trade cooperation. He asked the SK Group to take its advantage in telecommunication, energy and biological technology to enhance cooperation with Chinese enterprises.

Responding to Wu's proposal, Chey said the SK Group is willing to forge a long-term and comprehensive cooperative relations with China and join efforts to further explore the world market.

Gates and Chey are both here to attend the BFA annual meeting. The BFA annual conference brings together senior government officials, business executives as well as leading academics whose activities affect Asia.