BEIJING, June 18 (Xinhuanet) -- Bill Gateshas announcedthatbeginning in July 2008, he will assume full-time duties at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation whilespending only 20 percent of his time asMicrosoft's chairman.

The Bill and Melinda Gates foundation wasfunded by $29 billion of his donations. As it is gettingincreasingly influential in fields like global health and education,Gates has decided tospendmore time there so thatit wouldhave a huge impact on the world. But he is alsopassionate abouthis work as chief brain of Microsoft, the company he cofounded in 1975. To solve the dilema, thus he made the decision.

CEO Steve Ballmer will run the companywhenGates isfully involved in the business of his foundation.Enditem

(Agencies)