Computex Taipei, the world's second largest computer trade show, saw a record attendance of Chinese exhibitors on its opening day Tuesday, reflecting efforts by Taiwan and China to forge closer trade and commercial ties. 'The number of participating Chinese companies jumped 179 percent and the number of booths rose 151 percent, ' said Wang Chih-kang, the chairman of the Computex co-host Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA), said in his opening address. A total of 106 companies from China are taking part in the show's special cross- Taiwan Strait section, occupying 171 booths, he noted. Last year was the first time TAITRA worked with its Chinese counterparts, including the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, in setting up the section. Computex, now in its 30th year, also grew marginally in other areas because of the global economy's recovery, Wang said. The number of exhibitors edged higher, to 1,715 from 1,712, and the number of booths has risen 8 percent to 4,861, from 4,498 last year, Wang said. Despite competition from Chinese exhibitions, Computex remains Asia's largest computer trade show, generating US$20 billion in business every year, and is critical to Taiwan's economy because of the importance of the country's ICT industry. 'The information and communications technology (ICT) industry has become Taiwan's biggest economic backbone over the past 30 years, 'said John Hsuan, the convener of the Taipei Computer Association (TCA) that co-hosts Computex. The industry in Taiwan has an annual output value of US$200 billion, Hsuan said. Before Hsuan thanked the government for providing a business-friendly environment, a group of workers staged a protest against heads of major high- tech companies and accused them of making profits from sweatshops. Holding photos of corporate heads on posters, the protestors shouted slogans including 'No more sweatshops, I want happiness back.' The targeted heads included Apple Inc. CEO Steve Jobs, Terry Gou, the chairman of Taiwan's Hon Hai Group (also known as Foxconn Technology Group) that makes Apple Inc.'s popular products, and Cher Wang, the chairwoman of HTC Corp., a leading Taiwanese smartphone maker. Gou's company has recently faced serious scrutiny after more than 10 workers at its Foxconn complex in southern China jumped to their deaths, reportedly because of too much pressure on the job. 