TCL Corporation & the China women's tennis team agreement signing ceremony and press conference were held in the Press Conference Hall of the General Administration of Sport of China (GASC) in Beijing on Feb. 08, 2007. TCL and the China Tennis Association (CTA) signed a strategic partnership agreement, for a term of three years, wherein both parties reached a mutual agreement on logo use, media promotion, a public relations speaker and other sponsorship rights. The execution of this agreement indicates that TCL, a pioneer in internationalization among Chinese enterprises, has formally established a strategic partnership with the thriving China women's tennis team. These two "powerful emerging Chinese contenders" are now working together closely to move forward in the internationalization process. 

Members in attendance at the press conference included: Xiao Tian, the deputy director of GASC; Sun Jinfang, director of administration for the Center of Women's Tennis; and various coaches and players from the women’s tennis teams, including Zheng Jie and Yan Zi, Li Na, among other players, as well as Yang Weiqiang, vice president of TCL, and other executives.

When commenting on the reason that TCL opted to sponsor China's women tennis, Mr. Li Dongsheng, the president of TCL, explained, "The China women's tennis team has made a remarkable breakthrough in a sport that, traditionally, had been dominated by western countries. TCL has become a predominant and competitive manufacturer in the dog-eat-dog global market of consumer electrics. Both of us are powerful emerging Chinese contenders in the world stage. "

TCL is a key force in the process of internationalizing Chinese enterprises while the China women's tennis team is a shining new star in the world's tennis arena and, thus, this strategic partnership is necessarily viewed by them as a strategically high-level attempt at facilitating an international presence. Over the next three years, not only do we expect to see Zheng Jie and Yan Zi, Li Na, to name but two, achieve outstanding results in all their tennis matches, but to excel in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games as well. From this point forward, as the world witnesses their awesome performance on the tennis courts, it will be associated with TCL's striking logo adorned on all of their sport's attire: a symbol of outstanding achievement. Thus, these two powerful emerging Chinese contenders will be two shining stars and the focus of attention of millions of people as the world watches.

Yang Weiqiang, vice president of TCL, was full of confidence when he talked about the sponsorship agreement with the China women's tennis team. He said,"The cooperation between TCL and China's women tennis players enjoys a solid foundation in terms of their common spirit. Both of us have a strong sense of national pride and civic responsibility. We share a similar innovative spirit and have both faced and overcome challenges in the internationalization process with indomitable determination and strong will. The more familiar we became with the plight and achievements of the China women's tennis team, the more similarities we realized we had in common. We believe that both the tennis games and the spirit of the China women's tennis team are the best representation for the TCL brand name, product image and corporate spirit. Tennis games feature devotion, progressiveness, passion and innovation, just like the TCL brand name; China women's tennis team players are fearless and persevering, just like the corporate spirit of TCL; tennis games are elegant, healthy and fashionable and are always seeking quality just like the lifestyle TCL advocates as well. TCL attaches great importance to the strategic cooperation between the two parties. Let's expect this wonderful moment to bring new achievements to China."

Xiao Tian, deputy director of the General Administration of Sport of China, said "China women's tennis is a fast growing team. After Sun Tiantian and Li Ting won the championship in the Olympic Games and Zheng Jie and Yan Zi won the championships in the 2006 Australian Open and the 2006 Wimbledon, their world rankings increased significantly, which indicates that China women's tennis players are world-class contenders. As tennis fans all around the world show more concern and passion for these Chinese ladies, TCL—as the leading manufacturer of consumer electrics in China—has forged a top-level alliance with this the young team, which will bring more technological assistance and motivation to the team and help the players achieve more brilliant success."

Sun Jinfang, director of the National Table Tennis and Badminton Administration Center, was joined by key players from the women's tennis team at the press conference, signifying that the Administration Center attached great importance to this union. Sun Jinfang said, "The corporate spirit of TCL -- Dedication, Integrity, Teamwork and Innovation - is a good match to the perseverant and aggressive China women's tennis team. The outstanding performance of TCL, especially with its hard working, bold and original innovations, greatly inspires us as well. We trust each other and have full confidence in future cooperation. TCL will provide equipment to the China women's tennis team, which will be a great help to us in making technological breakthroughs. The China women's tennis team will boost the growth of the TCL brand name with its awesome achievements in world games so that TCL can become a predominant name in the field of world sports."

Early in 1996, TCL first cooperated with China women's volleyball with Lang Ping as its image speaker. Beginning from 2002, TCL has sponsored the Golf PGA European Tour for four consecutive sessions. Along with the internationalization process, TCL's sponsorship strategy has extended overseas: In Australia, TCL sponsored horse racing, baseball and rugby games, which are popular in the country; in Thailand, TCL sponsored the game of Go and the rebroadcast of the 2006 FIFA World Cup and, in India, TCL sponsored cricket games.  Today, TCL has strategically opted to sponsor tennis due to the fact that tennis is growing rapidly in China, the number of Chinese tennis players is surprisingly growing and people's interest in tennis has built a huge platform. According to professional estimates, TCL will spend up to 100 million RMB to implement this tennis sponsorship marketing strategy. Furthermore, this tennis sponsorship marketing strategy might be a prelude to a similar one in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.   

The executives of the TCL Group also said that, in addition to its sponsorship of China women's tennis, the company will involve itself in the sport in a multifaceted manner by sponsoring the China men's tennis team, developing the Eagle Eye mobile phone, and by further promoting the sport of tennis among common citizens. The TCL tennis sponsorship marketing strategy is under ongoing planning.