Jiangsu Province in east China has intensified its efforts to crack down on the production and marketing of pirated audio and video compact discs and products with pornographic contents in recent years, a local official said Thursday.

A total of 11.2 million pieces of illegal CDs were destroyed indifferent places across the province Wednesday in a demonstration of the province's determination to protect intellectual property right, according to Yin Ming, deputy director of the provincial Department of Culture.

The province closed 55 stores selling pirated audio-visual products and products with unhealthy content in 2001. In 2002, the province destroyed 12 million pirated CDs.

Last year, the province named 332 stores as a pilot in selling audio-visual products with official copyright, with the hope to guarantee the healthy development of audio-visual industry and protect the copyright of foreign products, Yin said.

Regarding the protection intellectual property right, a system which consists of legislation, administration and law enforcement has been set up in China.

China's customs at various levels have played a key role in law enforcement and cracking down on activities infringing upon intellectual property right. Official statistics show that about 4,000 cases involving the infringement of intellectual property right have been cracked since 1994.

(Xinhua News Agency November 25, 2004)