China's Vice-Premier Liu Yandong (2nd R, back) and President and CEO of the International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) Ginni Rometty (2nd L, back) attend the signing ceremony of an educational exchange program during Liu's visit to the company, in Washington DC, the United States, on June 23, 2015. [Photo/Xinhua]

In addition to its contributions to people-to-people exchange and technology, IBM is going to work with China on the environment and public health.

"China is going to spend 130 billion yuan to deal with the pollution around Beijing," Liu said.

It is hoped that the use of big data analytics will help solve the most pressing problems in China, such as air quality and pollution and clean energy.

China has a shortage of general practitioners, according to Liu.

IBM "might be able to take world-class healthcare and bring it to everyone in the population. I know equal access and high quality healthcare is an important priority for China, " Rometty said.

"We also hope that when President Xi Jinping comes in September, it will be our honor to also host him at our IBM laboratories," Rometty said.

Liu Jingyang in Washington contributed to the story.

leshuodong@chinadailyusa.com