BEIJING - Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates and General Motors (GM) Chairman and 
Chief Executive Rick Wagoner praised China's efforts in IPR protection on 
Thursday, saying the government had achieved unprecedented progress in this 
regard. 
 
 
   Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates delivers a speech during The 
 Microsoft Global Leaders Forum in Beijing April 19, 2007. [Reuters]
   | 
They made the remarks when meeting 
Chinese Vice Premier Wu Yi. 
The two chairmen said they appreciated the innovative measures taken by the 
Chinese government in IPR protection and vowed to cooperate closely with China. 
Wu told them the Chinese government has all along attached great importance 
to IPR protection, and has made positive efforts in legislation and law 
enforcement to protect IPR. 
Since 2006, China had established IPR service centers in 50 major cities. The 
Ministry of Information Industry and other relevant ministries have decided that 
computers imported into China and sold in China must come complete with 
authorized preloaded operating systems, aiming to attack piracy at its roots. 
"China needs IPR protection to develop its economy and enhance its innovation 
capabilities," Wu said during the meeting, adding her government will continue 
to step up efforts in this area. 
Wu spoke positively of the rapid development of China-US trade relations. The 
two countries have set up a strategic economic dialogue mechanism, and have 
become each other's second largest trading partners. 
With China's economic growth, the two sides enjoy even greater potential for 
trade cooperation, the vice premier added. 
The successful business operations of Microsoft and GM in China are a 
demonstration of win-win results in China-US trade cooperation. 
The two chairmen vowed to further cement cooperation with Chinese companies 
and promote bilateral trade ties. 
Bill Gates will fly to south China's Hainan Province to attend the Boao Forum 
of Asia scheduled for April 20-22.