Metromedia Chairman Receives China's Marco Polo Award
January 26, 1998 02:38 PM
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--January 26, 1998--John W. Kluge, Chairman of Metromedia International Group , and majority shareholder and Director of Metromedia Fiber Network Nasdaq , received the Marco Polo Award from Mr. Wan Xueyuan, Director of the State Bureau of Foreign Exports of China's State Council, on Tuesday in China. The receipt of this award is in recognition of Mr. Kluge and his organization's contribution to China and the U.S.-China relationship.
Upon receiving the award, Mr. Kluge said "Metromedia International Group is committed to helping China cope with its unparalleled economic development." Over the past few years, Metromedia International has aggressively engaged in China's communications development through investment and technology transfer. Metromedia International, through its subsidiary, Asian American Telecommunications Corporation began, in 1996, investments in China. Since then, the Company's presence in China has continued to grow. To date, it has opened an office in Beijing, and set up three joint venture companies in China.
"Our goal is to foster close relationships and new opportunities that will benefit the companies and the people of both our nations.", Mr. Kluge said.
China is a growing market for communications, and rapidly-rising infrastructure investments in China are creating increased demand for advanced technology in telecommunications. Metromedia International Group was at the forefront of this market when it agreed to invest in a project to provide local and long distance telephone systems for both Chongqing Municipality and Sichuan Province, which will become the first provincial phone system that is independent of the China Telecommunications Network. In September, 1996, it signed an agreement with China Unicom to construct a GSM network in Ningbo, Zhejiang Province. Metromedia International is also ready to be actively involved in China's CDMA mobile phone network and other telecommunications projects.
Metromedia International Group, Inc., through its wholly owned subsidiary, Metromedia International Telecommunications, Inc. (MITI), operates communications and media businesses in Eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union and other emerging markets including wireless cable television stations; FM radio stations; radio paging operations; an international toll calling service; Trunked Mobile Radio systems, and GSM cellular operations. Through its 57% ownership of Metromedia Asia Corporation, MITI operates ventures supporting wired telephone network and GSM cellular system operations in China.
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