Xiamen is suitable for developing an integrated circuit (IC) design industry, said Wei Shaojun, director general of China Semiconductor Industry Association IC Design Branch.

Wei made the remarks at an interview with local media on Dec 4, saying that he was impressed by the city's passionate entrepreneurial atmosphere and beautiful natural landscape.

He compared IC to the food of IT industry, and that IC design leads the entire IC industry chain. Although China has seen a rapid development in the IC design industry, it still lags behind some other countries, Wei said.

He noted that the IC design industry in Xiamen boasts vitality and a sound foundation.

"I have always kept a close eye on the development of Xiamen's IC industry, especially its IC design industry," he said.

In 2006, he attended a demonstration meeting on a public service platform for Xiamen's IC design industry, which was put into service in 2007.

Wei praised the platform for offering public technological support to local IC designers and also providing a place of idea exchanges between relevant renowned companies from China and abroad and various institutes.

He said that in recent years, Xiamen has valued the IC industry, and its IC design industry is running into a period of rapid growth with an increasingly complete industry chain.

Xiamen now is home to roughly 100 IC design companies with an annual output value of 4 billion yuan ($568 million).