BEIJING - Even though Europe's economies had a rough year in 2011, sales of mobile phones made by TCL Corp (TCL) still grew 20 percent in the region, said Li Dongsheng, chief executive officer of the company.

Progress in the European and US markets is significant to the company's global strategy, Li said at a ceremony to mark the 10th anniversary of China's membership in the WTO held by Nanfang Media Group.

Li said TCL will produce 45 million mobile phones in 2011, 35 million more than in 2004.

"TCL ranks seventh in the global mobile phone market, which brings us the confidence to improve our international competitiveness," he said.

Like many Chinese companies, TCL developed rapidly in the decade since China joined the WTO, with the company's overseas profits increasing from 5 billion yuan to 20 billion yuan over the period.

"The company has transformed from a local manufacturing company to a global enterprise through accelerating internationalization and increasing competitiveness," Li said. "We are going to keep enlarging the overseas businesses."

But he added that the development and China's membership in the WTO require the company to take more responsibility than before.

"Back 10 years ago, I was excited that China successfully joined the WTO, but also worried," he said. "China had to open the market to the foreign companies, which will have impacts on domestic businesses."

"Whether China can maintain rapid growth depends on what we can give to the world and that needs time and preparation," Tang Min, counselor of State Council, said at the WTO ceremony.

"If we want to become a leader of the world economy, we need to give. A world leader does not just benefit, but also contributes," he said.

The economic environment in China has changed profoundly in the past 10 years. The days of making profits based on the cheap labor alone are gone forever, he said.

"We had created the past glorious 10 years," said Tang. "Along with the world economy, China's outside and inside situation all changed sharply. How to keep the growth in the next 20 years will be what we need to consider seriously."

China Daily