The procurator-general stressed that Premier Li Keqiang said China will promote high-quality development of the real economy through innovation, improve the capacity for science and technology innovation and strengthen IPR protection. Li addressed the issues in his Government Work Report at the fourth session of the 13th National People's Congress on Friday.

While fully performing their criminal procuratorial functions, Zhang said prosecutors will also pay more attention to civil and administrative procuratorial functions, enhance judicial supervision and cooperate with other departments to comprehensively protect IPR.

"The intellectual property rights for domestic and foreign enterprises will be treated equally and protected on an equal basis," he said.

Zhang said procuratorates are actively working with the courts and administrative authorities that handle intellectual property issues to establish a data exchange mechanism. That would enable prosecutors to conduct analysis and more accurately detect problems in the judicial protection of IPR. Also, public interest litigation is being explored to protect IPR.

The SPP instructed procuratorates at all levels to strengthen the protection of commercial secrets in key technical areas under the new situation. While dealing with infringement cases, prosecutors were urged to protect commercial secrets and prevent malicious rivals from seeking criminal prosecution of competitors.

The infringement of commercial secrets concerning advanced and core technologies that threaten the survival and development of enterprises will be targeted as a priority in the next step, to support and protect innovation.