Vice-Premier Wu Yi said Tuesday China has full awareness of intellectual property rights and is firmly determined to protect them as the markets develop.

She said China is consistently increasing its efforts in the legal arena to protect these rights domestically and internationally. Her remarks came before a luncheon at a round table conference hosted by US Embassy in Beijing.

"This is not only part of the implementation of China's commitments to the World Trade Organization, but efforts to attract more overseas investments and advanced technology, and to facilitate the economic and social progress of China," she said.

China has constructed a legal system which is now widely recognized worldwide, Wu said.

As member of the World Intellectual Property Organization, China has become a partner to major international conventions on intellectual property rights, including the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property, and the Madrid Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Marks.

Wu believes China's acceptance of those international conventions proves China is connecting itself to international standards. Wu said China has cracked down hard on counterfeiting operations and other forms of infringements.

On the China-US trade, Wu expected the two sides to handle trade disputes with particular care to help achieve sustainable growth for both countries.

(China Daily November 19, 2003)