China's biggest computer maker Lenovo has signed a deal with Microsoft worth US$1.2 billion, the South China Morning Post reported. The agreement for the purchase of Windows software over the next year was signed in Seattle at the software giant's headquarters as President Hu Jintao left Beijing for his visit to the United States, which includes a White House meeting with US President George W. Bush on Thursday. Microsoft chairman Bill Gates called the software deal, which should ease pressure over rampant piracy in China, "a major milestone in the very important relationship we have with Lenovo". Chinese government offices will from now on only buy computers with software already installed, and large businesses are to do the same by the end of April. Chinese ambassador Zhou Wenzhong hinted Hu will be bringing more sweeteners with him, saying: "Is there going to be more good news announced? I think there should be."
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