USTR released "Special 301 Report 2013" on May 1, and Head of Department of Treaty and Law, MOFCOM, said in an interview granted to reporters that the Report is positive on China's efforts and the progress achieved in IPR protection in recent years. However, the Report put China on Priority Watch List for nine years consecutively. China expresses deep regret for it.

The Head said that the Chinese government attaches great importance to IPR protection, and has made considerable progress in legislation and law enforcement of IPR protection. In recent years, the Chinese government has adopted a series of measures for law enforcement of IPR protection. In 2011, the Chinese government set up a Leading Group for National Cracking Down on IPR Infringement and Counterfeit and Shoddy Goods to strengthen the leadership and coordination of IPR protection, and has issued the Opinions of the State Council on Further Cracking Down on IPR Infringement and Counterfeit and Shoddy Goods to further improve the long-term mechanism of IPR protection.

The Head said that the Chinese government also attaches great importance to protection of trade secret, and the Leading Group for National Cracking Down on IPR Infringement and Counterfeit and Shoddy Goods has made special arrangement on strengthening protection of trade secret. Meanwhile, the Chinese government encourages enterprises to strengthen technology research and development, so as to improve their market competitiveness.

The Head also said that China and US have maintained sound cooperation and communication in recent years through such mechanisms as China-US Strategic and Economic Dialogues and JCCT, and have signed China-US IPR cooperation agreement in 2011. China believes that IPR protection is an issue of international concern, which requires the joint efforts of the international community, and China would like to work with US and rest countries and regions including US to strengthen cooperation, so as to jointly enhance IPR protection around the globe.