Motorola pledges US$90m for research

BEIJING: U.S.-based integrated communications provider Motorola has signed a memorandum of agreement with authorities in China pledging US$90 million to establish a research facility in Beijing, state press reported on Monday.

At a signing ceremony over the weekend, Motorola said it has no plans to alter its investment strategy in China due to the outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), the China Daily said.

No further details of the deal were provided.

"We are optimistic about China's economy and our commitment to China has not changed at all," Mike Zafirovski, president and chief operating officer of Motorola Inc., said in the report.

Motorola also donated $1.4 million worth of communications equipment to help China combat the spread of SARS. -- AFP