Pledge on IP rights protection applauded

China is concerned about protecting its own rapidly growing intellectual property, leading to increased recognition of the issue's importance, according to US citizens with business ties to the country.

Frank Wu, president of the Committee of 100, a nonpartisan leadership organization of prominent Chinese Americans in business, government, academia and the arts, said, "China has made great progress. China has its own intellectual property to protect. That includes both in the global marketplace and also internally.

"This issue is similar to the environment. External critics of China don't appreciate that Chinese themselves realize there are issues to be addressed. They are doing so. These developments should be encouraged."