Most of the discs were produced in and transported from places outside Beijing, said the officials.

China is earnestly promoting laws and regulations on the protection of the copyrights of audio and visual products, and the authorities have taken tough anti-piracy measures.

The campaign is aimed at regulating the market and developing an orderly market for audio and visual products. Sources from the Ministry of Culture said that all large marketplaces dealing in pirated discs nationwide will be closed by the end of this year.

In addition, relevant departments will re-register all retailers of audio and visual products as well as gradually eliminating all public video projection houses.

Liu Shengli, director of the cultural market department of the Ministry of Culture, said that anti-piracy efforts will help to create a satisfactory environment for intellectual innovation.

Liu encouraged consumers and copyright-holders of audio-visual products to participate in the anti-piracy campaign so as to safeguard their legal rights.

Statistics show that the authorities have found and closed some 100,000 audio-visual shops selling pirated discs. Consumers can access authentic products in supermarkets and chain stores as well as making purchases online.

(People's Daily 10/08/2001)