The Internet will foster ideas and communication in China, hence, we must be engaged in China to ensure that the Internet thrives. The number of Chinese Internet users quadrupled in 1999 and is expected to more than double again by the end of this year. PNTR for China will help American companies tap into this new economic opportunity and further boost the expansion of e-commerce around the world. And, we believe China's accession to the World Trade Organization will lead to further improvements in its intellectual property protection, as the added pressure of 135 countries will be upon China to meet WTO's IP obligations.
China is a dynamic, rapidly growing international market with significant, long-term potential.
This is an unprecedented opportunity to open up new investment, trade and electronic commerce for American companies. We must seize this opportunity. BSA is the voice of the world's leading software developers before governments and with consumers in the international marketplace. Its members represent the fastest growing industry in the world. BSA members include Adobe, Apple Computer, Autodesk, Bentley Systems, Compaq, Corel Corporation, IBM, Intel, Intuit, Lotus Development, Macromedia, Microsoft, Network Associates, Novell, Sybase, Symantec and Walker Digital.