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Microsoftannounced it will employ 1,000 more engineersin China for the current fiscal year, according to a Reuters report.

Zhang Yagin, Microsoft's chairman in the mainland, disclosed the additional workforce will reinforce its staff of 5,000 in China. He added that while there will be researchersin the new hires, most will be involved with the product.

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer earlier this month noted that the China marketis important to the company but that it needs to do more to protect IP rights. The company said more than a fifth of its softwarerunning globally is pirated.