The First China International  Information Technology Exhibition, sponsored by the Ministry of  Information Industry (MII), will be held here on December 13-16  this year.

   This was announced by a MII official, who revealed that patent  technologies, inventions, products based on new information  technology (IT), computers and software, telecommunications and  Internet technologies and household appliances will be displayed  at the exhibition.

   Various symposiums accompanying the exhibition, such as an " inventors' forum", will focus on the hot topics concerning the  information industry.

   Lou Qinjian, vice-minister of Information Industry, said at a  press conference Tuesday that technology plays a vital role in the information industry and those who have a "special" technology  will occupy a "special" market and make "special" profits.

   The exhibition will provide a platform for the communication  and cooperation between academics and business, so as to elevate  the information industry as a whole, he added.

   The exhibition, to be held once a year, will be organized and  undertaken by the China Electronics Science & Technology Exchange  Center under the MII.

   The information industry ranks first among various other  industrial sectors in China.