The China Open Source Software (OSS) Week 2005, the first such event of the Asian Open Source organization, opened in Beijing Monday and will last through March 4.

The OSS week, which comprises Asia Debian Mini Conference, the 5th Asia Open Source Software Symposium and Codefest Asia 2005, was hosted by the China Software Industry Association, the China Open Source Software Promotion Union, and the China Electronic Standardization Technology Institute and was organized by Sun Wah Hi-Tech Group.

The activities have also won support from the State Council Informatization Office, the Ministry of Information Industry and the Ministry of Science and Technology.

Open Source Software fulfills the same function as Windows operating system but at a much lower cost and is especially favored by Asian countries.

The China OSS Week 2005 is expected to open the door of communication between the Chinese OSS industry and its Asian and the world's counterparts, by providing a platform for direct talks and interactions for government delegates, educators, Open Source Software developers and Linux fans from as many as 21 countries, for the promotion of rapid development of OSS in Asia.

Organizers said that holding the convention in China indicates the importance the international IT industry attaches to China's OSS development. The location also provides a valuable chance for Chinese developers to learn from their colleagues throughout Asia.