A global forum on intellectual property rights (IPR) protection and innovation opened in Beijing on Tuesday. Chen Zhili, the State Councilor, attended the opening ceremony and was a keynote speaker, and Premier Wu Yi passed on her congratulations.

In her congratulatory letter, Wu Yi said the development of the knowledge economy had caused nations to focus increasingly on technological innovation and scientific innovation, as well as improving national core competitiveness to achieve sustainable economic development. A country's ability to independently innovate determines its technological development and is the driving force of social progress.

Wu Yi says the Chinese government is very focused on improving China's ability to develop its own technology. It will endeavor to perfect and enforce IPR laws. The Chinese government will continue to take effective measures to deal with IPR infringement, and is willing to increase its cooperation with the international community to promote IPR protection. This forum is another meaningful attempt to promote independent innovation and IPR protection. Wen Yi hopes people will be given the chance to speak freely at the forum, to facilitate the learning process and increase exchange and cooperation in the field of IPR protection.

In her keynote address, Chen Zhili said that adequate IPR protection will encourage innovation and creativity right across society, create a good market and investment environment, promoting social progress and the prosperity of economy and culture. Protecting IPR is in keeping with China's long-term interests. Chen says China's stance on IPR remains firm. Measures already taken are having some effect. Over the last 20 years, China has issued a complete set of IPR laws that are not only suitable for China, but are in line with international practices. It now has an IPR administrative approval system, intermediary services, conducts academic research into IPR, and has established an IPR law enforcement system executed by both administrative and judicial branches of the government.

Chen Zhili stressed that the protection of IPR is a problem for the world. All countries must cooperate to resolve it. China will actively fulfill its international commitments. Chen hopes this forum will increase cooperation on IPR rights.

The forum is being sponsored by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade and the American International Chamber of Commerce. The themes of the forum are encouraging innovation, protecting IPR, and promoting the creation of wealth. Government officials, enterpreneurs, experts and scholars from China, the US, the EU, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, India, Hong Kong, and Taiwan attended the forum.

By People's Daily Online