The Chinese government will firmly combat piracy and protect the rights and interests of all intellectual property rights (IPR) owners, said Vice Premier Wu Yi in Xiamen on Friday.

 

Wu made the remarks when meeting with Barbara Franklin, vice chairperson of the US-China Business Council, who is attending the Tenth China International Fair for Investment and Trade (CIFIT). The two sides exchanged views on bilateral trade relations and issues of common concern.

 

Wu added the Chinese government will continue to strengthen law enforcement in IPR protection and severely punish those who break the law.

 

Trade between China and the US is growing fast. China is the US' third largest trading partner and its fourth largest export market, while the US is China's second largest trading partner and its biggest export market.

 

China and the US are "key trading partners." Enhancing cooperation and carrying out consultations on an equal footing have become the "mainstay" of the bilateral trade relationship, Wu said.

 

She also hoped the US side would take constructive measures to lift restrictions on exports of certain goods to China, and increase bilateral trade in the high-tech area, so as to diminish the imbalance in bilateral trade.

 

Franklin agreed with Wu, saying China-US trade relations are very vigorous. She also spoke highly of the IPR protection efforts made by the Chinese government.

 

The US-China Business Council will continue to actively push forward trade relations between the two countries, she said.

 

Wu also met with guests from international organizations here on Thursday, reiterating that China will continue to open up to the outside world and attract foreign investment.

 

Wu made the remarks when meeting with Pascal Lamy, director-general of the World Trade Organization; Supachai Panitchpakdi, secretary-general of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development; and Kandeh Yumkella, director-general of United Nations Industrial Development Organization. They are attending the Tenth China International Fair for Investment and Trade (CIFIT).

 

She stressed the Chinese government will "as always stick to the basic policy of opening-up to the outside."

 

Wu said the Chinese government will establish a more open market system, continue to develop service industries, further improve relevant laws and regulations, strengthen intellectual property rights protection and create better investment conditions.

 

Wu also expressed China's willingness to promote the resumption of the stalled Doha round of negotiations with other World Trade Organization members, and finally achieve the goals set.

 

Edmund Ho Hau Wah, chief executive of China's Macao Special Administrative Region, also attended the meeting.

 

(Xinhua News Agency September 8, 2006)