China ferreted out 17 illegal CD production lines and seized 169 million illegal publications in 2005 in its nationwide crackdown on pornographic and illegal publications, according to government statistics.

In addition, China banned 79 illegal newspapers and 50 game softwares and punished a batch of criminals, according to a national work conference held Tuesday.

"Through such work, we have frightened piracy activities and established a good image for the Chinese government in intellectual property right protection," said Liu Yunshan, head of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee.

He said as this year marks the opening of China's 11th Five-Year Plan period, it is important to do a good job in cracking down on pornographic and illegal publications.

"Various localities and departments should severely crack down on illegal publications, purify the cultural market, effectively curb various kinds of piracy and strengthen intellectual property right protection," he said.

(Xinhua News Agency January 18, 2006)