China has officially started formulating its national strategy for intellectual property rights (IPR), which was announced at Thursday's meeting of the leading group for IPR strategy formulation chaired by Vice Premier Wu Yi.

Wu, who is in charge of foreign trade and investment in the State Council, or China's cabinet, said that formulating such a strategy reflects the objective needs of the country's reform, opening up, and social and economic development.

Drafting the strategy is "a pressing task" as it will help China deal with the challenges arising from changes in international rules on IPR and safeguard the country's interests and economic security, she said.

It is also conducive to speeding up the establishment of a market environment for fair competition and improving the capability for independent innovation and the competitiveness of key technologies.

The vice premier stressed that the strategy should accord with the country's overall development strategies and programs, and work in harmony with relevant laws, regulations and policies so as to reflect the Chinese characteristics and be practical and innovative.

The leading group for drafting the IPR strategy, established in January this year, consists of officials from two dozens of departments under the State Council, including the State Intellectual Property Office.

China has handled 24,189 trademark infringement cases and seized more than 167 million pieces of illegal audio-video products and pirated products since it launched a massive crackdown on IPR violations last September.

Chinese law enforcement authorities have also destroyed 24 illegal CD production lines and closed down 2,960 illegal printing workshops.

(Xinhua News Agency July 1, 2005)