14:00 May 22 2008 ten days after the Sichuan earthquake Tencent signed an official agreement with the Chengdu municipal government to invest CYN 550 million in operations in Chengdu. The two sides announced that Tencent will invest CYN 550 million in Chengdu New High Technology Industrial Development Zone by building the Chengdu Tencent Research Center Information Processing Center and Customer Service Center. Chengdu Municipality Vice Party Secretary and Mayor Ge Honglin Tencent Co-Founder and CAO Chen Yidan Chengdu Municipal Party Committee Standing Committee Member and the Development Zone's Workers' Committee Secretary Jing Gang Assistant to Chengdu Mayor and Head of the Development Zone's Management Committee Han Chunlin Tencent Vice President Guo Kaitian etc. attended the agreement signing ceremony.

At the ceremony Chengdu Municipality Vice Party Secretary and Mayor Ge Honglin said:"Tencent is the first enterprise to invest in Sichuan after the earthquake. This investment came at the most important time! Investing in and developing the economy of the quake zone are the best ways to facilitate the rebuilding process." Chengdu Municipal Party Committee Standing Committee Member and the Development Zone's Workers' Committee Secretary Jing Gang said:"After the Wenchuan earthquake Tencent has been actively helping the disaster zone. The company has raised over CYN 40 million in relief funds. Moreover Tencent is still pushing for its plan to invest in Chengdu. The signing of today's agreement fully shows Tencen's trust in the Chengdu New High Technology Industrial Development Zone and confidence in Chengdu's future development. For this we are deeply grateful."

According to the agreement Tencent will invest a total of CYN 550 million in the Chengdu Research Center Information Processing Center and Customer Service Center which will be located in the Phase 2 area of Tianfu Software Park at the development zone. Tencent will purchase an 18000-square meters research building and 1.67-hectare research campus. Once renovated the research building will have a total area of 48000 square meters. In the next three years Tencent's Chengdu branch will expand the company's core operations in southwest China and expand its staff to 1500. Tencent's this investment will greatly raise the standard of Tencent's customer service interactive entertainment research and data processing capabilities which will ensure Tencent's continued growth and improvement in the company's business operations.

Tencent Co-Founder and CAO Chen Yidan points out that the Wenchuan earthquake has resulted in severe damages to many areas of Sichuan. One way for enterprises to help the disasters zones is to enter Sichuan invest in Sichuan. Tencent insistence on investing in building research information processing and customer service centers in Chengdu is an act of support through action.

Agreement signing ceremony in Chengdu