BEIJING, July 11 -- China and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) vowed on Friday to improve cooperation on protection of intellectual property rights (IPR).

The pledge was made during a meeting between Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and WIPO Director-General Francis Gurry. Gurry is here for Thursday's opening of a Beijing WIPO office, one of only four globally. China joined WIPO in 1980.

Li said innovation supports the Chinese economy in its advance to a medium-to-high level, and IPR protects and stimulates innovation. China will give equal treatment and protection to products made at home and abroad, he said.

Li told the guests that administrative and legal protection measures are improving, to create a fair, normative and transparent market environment. IPR evaluation standards are also improving, all of which help turn technological achievements into productivity, he added.

Gurry spoke highly of China's support for WIPO, the high importance China attached to innovation and IPR protection and the remarkable achievements it made.

He said WIPO will strengthen communication and cooperation with China to promote global innovation and IPR protection. WIPO would also welcome China's playing a more constructive role in formulating international rules.