The number of intellectual property right infringements investigated by China's police departments rose by more than 30 percent in the first ten months of this year, Wu Heping, spokesman of the Ministry of Public Security, said.

The number of such cases rose to 1,904 over the first ten months, a 31.5 percent increase from the same period last year, Wu said.

"The rise of cases shows that the police has strengthened its crackdown on IPR infringements and also shows that the public has supported the police in fighting such cases," he said..

Chinese Commerce Minister Bo Xilai reiterated China's firm stance against piracy at the fifth IPR Roundtable in Beijing on Tuesday.

"The Chinese government will show no mercy in dealing with IPR infringements," Bo said.

The visiting US Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez said IPR protection is a "huge problem", but the Chinese side is "showing an increasing ability" to deal with the issue.

(Xinhua News Agency November 15, 2006)