Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Monday vowed to put even more emphasis on intellectual property rights (IPR) protection and reinforcing penalties for IPR infringements, and offer fair environment for foreign investment.

He made the pledge while meeting with participants to the 2014 China Development Forum held in Beijing from Saturday to Monday.

Stressing the importance of innovation, Li said China's reform is closely related to innovation. The transformation and upgrading of the Chinese economy relies on innovation.

He said more Chinese science parks and scientific and technological institutions will be covered by the trial reform policy that gives national innovation demonstration zones equity-based incentives for making innovation and the right to transfer and profit from their scientific and technological advances, in order to encourage initiatives for innovation.

Li said greater importance should be attached to the IPR protection, IPR-related legislation and law inforcement, and harsher punishment should be handed down to IPR infringements.

Meanwhile, Li expressed the hope that countries involved would lift unreasonable restrictions on high-tech exports to China.

"We welcome foreign companies to invest in China, bringing advanced concept and technologies," Li said. "Enterprises registered in China, no matter Chinese or foreign funded, would be treated equally."

China has been holding negotiations on investment agreements with the United States and European countries, which would help offer more fair and sound investment environment for respective enterprises, he told over 70 participants including CEOs from international corporations, experts and scholars from world-renowned institutions as well as leaders from international organizations like the World Bank, and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

China has been the country which attracts the most foreign investment among developing countries over the past 20 years, he said, adding China's actual use of foreign capital in the first two months of 2014 has kept a double-digit growth, which shows the attractiveness of China's huge market.

"By building the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone, China would explore the management model of pre-establishment national treatment with negative list, draw experience from the process and promote it nationwide," said the premier.

On China's economic structure adjustment, Li said the country would accelerate both manufacturing and service industries. He vowed to ease market access to the service industry, promote the development of such sectors as health care, medical treatment, finance and logistics through fair competitions, and offer more choices for Chinese consumers.

The foreign participants expressed appreciation of the Chinese government's commitment to deepening reforms, and expressed belief that China would offer better environment for investment and greater opportunities for Chinese and foreign companies.

They said multinationals are concerned about and support China's development and expect to strengthen cooperation with China.

Initiated in 2000, the China Development Forum serves as a platform for business and academic leaders to interact with China's top decision makers and economic planners.

(Source: Xinhua)