PC maker Lenovo has agreed to sell, distribute, and support VMware's virtualization platform in server systems sold in China.

The deal extends VMware's reach in the fast-growing nation, where Chinese Lenovo is the largest computer maker. "Through our relationship with Lenovo and its world-class brand, we are making VMware virtualization more broadly available to the Chinese market," Diane Greene, president and chief executive of VMware, said in a statement released Wednesday.

Chinese companies can buy Lenovo servers now with VMware Infrastructure 3 preinstalled. The platform for data center virtualization enables automatic load balancing, power management, and the ability to move a virtual machine to minimize service interruptions. Infrastructure 3 is compatible with VMware's desktop virtualization and management software.

China's economic boom has attracted many U.S. tech companies looking to tap into a potentially huge customer base. Chinese officials claim the nation now has more Internet users than the United States.

Cisco Systems this month launched public-private collaborative programs on Internet and environmental research and development, leadership training, best practice sharing, and business development investments. Senior VP of global operations Jim Sherriff, who was appointed chairman of Cisco China, is leading the initiative.

Also this month, Intel launched its second China investment fund, which would have $500 million to invest in wireless broadband, media, telecommunications, and "clean tech" in the communist nation.