China to let operators pick 3G standard

China has promised to let its phone companies pick their own standard for next-generation mobile phones, the US government says, despite industry fears that China would impose its own system.

China has developed its own third-generation, or 3G, standard in an effort to reduce its reliance on foreign technology.

China's pledge came during trade talks this week in Washington ahead of a US visit by Chinese President Hu Jintao (胡錦濤), the US Trade Representative's office said in a statement.

Chinese officials promised to "ensure that telecommunications service providers will be allowed to make their own choices as to which standard to adopt, and to issue licenses for all 3G standards in a technologically neutral manner," said the statement, dated Tuesday.

The meeting in Washington was led by Chinese Vice Premier Wu Yi (吳儀), who met with US Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez and US Trade Representative Rob Portman. The meeting was an opportunity for the two nations to ease tensions over their record US$202 billion trade gap.

"China will maintain its technical neutrality on 3G technology," Wu said.

The government in January chose a homegrown technology, time division synchronous code division multiple access, or TD-SCDMA, as one of its 3G standards.

The other two standards China is considering are WCDMA and CDMA2000.