Chinese smartphone vendor Vivo is partnering with ZEISS, a German manufacturer of optical systems and opto-electronics, to jointly promote and develop breakthrough innovations in mobile imaging technology.

The move comes as Vivo is accelerating its push to explore overseas markets including Poland, Germany, France, Spain, Italy and the United Kingdom.

Under a long-term strategic partnership, Vivo and ZEISS will establish the Vivo ZEISS Imaging Lab, a joint research and development program to innovate mobile imaging technology for Vivo's flagship smartphones, the two companies said in a statement.

The strategic, multi-faceted collaboration is designed to allow Vivo, which has deep consumer insight and integrated imaging capabilities, and ZEISS, a global leader in optics and opto-electronics and a pioneer in the field of professional and mobile imaging, to build on each other's strengths and advance mobile photography technology, the statement added.

In addition to the joint R&D program, the companies will launch the "Vivo ZEISS Master Photography" campaign to promote the Vivo ZEISS co-engineered imaging system and to inspire users to enjoy their creativity with Vivo's flagship smartphones.

"Through the partnership, ZEISS imaging technology will be enjoyed by many more consumers. Based on the synergy and complementarity of optical expertise and new digital technologies, Vivo and ZEISS intend to make the strategic collaboration a starting point to create new opportunities for mobile imaging, and enable more creativity, so as to support the long-term and healthy development of the entire industry," said Ni Xudong, senior vice-president and chief marketing officer of Vivo.

"The partnership between vivo and ZEISS is all about mobile imaging," said Joerg Schmitz, head of ZEISS's consumer products, "The breadth of ZEISS's decades-long expertise with optical technologies and imaging will enable Vivo to enhance the imaging performance of its flagship smartphones."