The 60 outstanding students majoring in electronic engineering,computer science, and telecommunications have received the merit-based scholarship totaling 250,000 yuan (30,000 U.S. dollars).

　　A Nortel senior official said Nortel is eager to assist development of China's higher education and will continue to fund the schooling of the talented students.

　　China is a strategic market for Nortel, and the company will increase investment in production and research and development (R&D) in the country, the official said.

　　Nortel has been successful on the Chinese market. In 2001, it won contracts worth 176 million U.S. dollars in the field of optical networks, as well as 870 million U.S. dollars worth of contracts for wireless communication deals.

　　Nortel entered the Chinese market in 1972 and has set up four joint ventures and two R&D centers in the country.