China's top legislator, Wu Bangguo, said on Saturday that the Chinese government protects the legal rights of all foreign investors in China, especially the holders of intellectual property rights.

He made the remarks at the opening ceremony of the 2007 Annual Conference of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) on Saturday in southern China's Hainan province.

Wu noted that China attaches great importance to innovation activities and welcomes global companies to establish R&D centers in China.

He said China will persevere in the opening-up policy and pay most attention to bringing in advanced technologies and management procedures to further promote international cooperation.

According to China's scientific and technological development plan, progress in scientific activities will contribute more than 60% to the country's economic growth by 2020.