IBM and the China Scholarship Council (CSC) signed an agreement to initiate an collaboration program in Washington on Tuesday. From left: Chen Liming, chairman of IBM Greater China Group; Ginni Rometty, chairman, president and Chief Executive Officer of IBM; Guan Lian (left), IBM Greater China Group University Partnership Executive; Liu Yandong, vice premier of China; Liu Jinghui (right), director of China Scholarship Council; and Yuan Guiren, Minister of Education of China. [Photo by DONG LESHUO/CHINA DAILY]

IBM and the China Scholarship Council (CSC) signed an agreement to initiate a five-year strategic collaboration program in Washington, DC on Tuesday.

"Today, as we sign the Memorandum of Understanding about the US and China talent exchange, it is our contribution to the people-to-people exchange vice-premier Liu mentioned," said Ginni Rometty, chairman, president and CEO of IBM.

By the terms of the agreement, IBM will provide scholarships to distinguished American students to study in China in the fields of science, technology and engineering, while China sends students to study at IBM partner universities in the US.

"I appreciate IBM's efforts to support China's education and help with people-to-people exchange," said Liu Yandong, vice-premier of China.

"During the past 20 years, IBM has donated a total of 4.16 billion rmb to China's education. This is a remarkable number," said Chen Liming, chairman of IBM Greater China Group.

"We just celebrated our 30th anniversary in China, which is also the 20th anniversary of our cooperation with China's Ministry of Education. I hope IBM will play an even more important role in the 'New Normal' of China," Rometty said.

"In the past we made products for China. Now we are making products with China," Rometty said.

"The idea is we are licensing technology in China so China can build its own semiconductor industry and then build its own server products," Rometty said.

Rometty announced that the first Chinese-made and manufactured chip was just produced in the last month, which highlights the new "made-with-China" strategy.

"We are very satisfied with our cooperation with IBM," Liu said. "China is promoting a comprehensive reform, including the areas of education, science and health."

In addition to its contributions to people-to-people exchange and technology, IBM is going to work with China on the environment and public health.

"China is going to spend 130 billion yuan to deal with the pollution around Beijing," Liu said.

It is hoped that the use of big data analytics will help solve the most pressing problems in China, such as air quality and pollution and clean energy.

China has a shortage of general practitioners, according to Liu.

IBM "might be able to take world-class healthcare and bring it to everyone in the population. I know equal access and high quality healthcare is an important priority for China, " Rometty said.

"We also hope that when President Xi Jinping comes in September, it will be our honor to also host him at our IBM laboratories," Rometty said.

Liu Jingyang in Washington contributed to the story.

leshuodong@chinadailyusa.com