China's growth as an economic power continues to raise its profile within the global standards community. In recognition of this, the IEEE-SA Corporate Advisory Group (CAG), which directs the IEEE-SA Corporate Program, visited China from April 19 to May 1 2006.

The trip helped the CAG better understand China's standardization needs. It also provided an opportunity to help those involved in standards in China understand what the Corporate Program, the IEEE Standards Association and the IEEE can offer them.

The CAG also hosted a day-long seminar, which included presentations by IEEE President Michael Lightner, IEEE-SA President Don Heirman and others. Topics included the IEEE standards process and IEEE standards for new or prominent technologies, such as highly scalable Ethernets, broadband powerline communications and laptop and mobile telephone battery standards. The seminar was well received by the 230 attendees from business, academia and government in China. The CAG also held an open business meeting.

"Our time there was highly productive," says Phil Wennblom, the CAG member who led the team that made the visit possible. "Our meetings with Chinese state agencies and companies, for instance, were good starting points for future discussions. We also gained valuable insight into the standards development environment in China and an appreciation of what is required to work effectively with industry there. In general, we found great receptivity to the corporate program as a way to help China bring its standards to the world market."

The CAG plans to foster ties within China and to continue to educate those there on the benefits of developing standards within the IEEE-SA and its Corporate Program.Tthe CAG supports standards efforts that occur through the IEEE's new office in China.