Shanghai Belling Corp., Ltd. started as Shanghai Belling Microelectronic Mfg. Corp. Ltd. back in September 1988. Cofounded by Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Instrumentation and Shanghai Bell, it was the first joint venture between a domestic entity and a foreign enterprise in the still nascent Chinese IC industry. During the early period of “reform and opening-up” of China, it served as a successful model of attracting foreign investment and importing advanced technologies.