Chinese premier underlines harsher punishment on IPR infringements

BEIJING, March 24 -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Monday vowed to put even more emphasis on intellectual property rights (IPR) protection and reinforcing penalties for IPR infringements, and offer fair environment for foreign investment.

He made the pledge while meeting with participants to the 2014 China Development Forum held in Beijing from Saturday to Monday.

Stressing the importance of innovation, Li said China's reform is closely related to innovation. The transformation and upgrading of the Chinese economy relies on innovation.

He said more Chinese science parks and scientific and technological institutions will be covered by the trial reform policy that gives national innovation demonstration zones equity-based incentives for making innovation and the right to transfer and profit from their scientific and technological advances, in order to encourage initiatives for innovation.

Li said greater importance should be attached to the IPR protection, IPR-related legislation and law inforcement, and harsher punishment should be handed down to IPR infringements.

Meanwhile, Li expressed the hope that countries involved would lift unreasonable restrictions on high-tech exports to China.

"We welcome foreign companies to invest in China, bringing advanced concept and technologies," Li said. "Enterprises registered in China, no matter Chinese or foreign funded, would be treated equally."

China has been holding negotiations on investment agreements with the United States and European countries, which would help offer more fair and sound investment environment for respective enterprises, he told over 70 participants including CEOs from international corporations, experts and scholars from world-renowned institutions as well as leaders from international organizations like the World Bank, and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.