China should strengthen its crackdown against copyright infringement to ensure a sound market order for both domestic and overseas investors, said Chinese Vice-Premier Wu Yi Thursday.

Wu made the remarks at a meeting of the National Intellectual Property Protection Work Group, after hearing reports from State Copyright Bureau, General Administration of Customs and some other departments.

She said China has actively contacted foreign companies in the fight against piracy in recent years. The method has paid off, and the country has become more capable of pinpointing and coping with copyright infringement.

Chinese people's awareness of the importance of intellectual property rights has increased, and government organizations have taken the lead in the use of copyrighted software in their work, said Wu.

But copyright protection problems are still serious in China, she said. The State Council is scheduled to have a meeting soon to launch a national campaign to protect intellectual property.

(Xinhua News Agency August 20, 2004)