Chinese vice premier urges further piracy crackdowns

BEIJING, July 16 (Xinhua) -- Vice Premier Wang Qishan on Monday addressed a national meeting with a demand for further crackdowns on piracy so as to protect an innovative environment and boost the country's soft power.

The government has maintained a crackdown on breaches of intellectual property rights and uncovered a series of major piracy cases in the first half of this year, Wang told the gathering.

Local government agencies have been ordered to use legitimate software and a related nationwide inspection has been conducted, he said, noting that the work is "lasting, arduous and complicated."

Efforts should be made to step up crackdowns on shoddy agricultural materials, pharmaceuticals and equipment in rural areas, as well as faked trademarks, patents and software, in order to protect the legal rights and interests of consumers and enterprises, according to the vice premier.