China will strictly curb rampant audio-visual piracy this year and cultivate legitimate production and trade, Tuo Zuhai, an official with the Ministry of Culture said on February 25.

"A severe crackdown on piracy is the most important job this year," he said.

China is now carrying out a three-month sting operation on smuggling and pirated publications, and so far over 700,000 VCDs have been confiscated, Tuo said.

Meanwhile, the ministry continues to confiscate other illegal publications disseminated by the Falungong cult containing superstitious or erotic content.

Tuo also said that in April authorities will strike out against illegal DVDs, which are now rampant on the Chinese market.

The ministry urged localities to curtail half of the existing 162 audio-visual markets nationwide and the government also suggested establishing chain stores for these products.

Official sources said the regulation of audio-visual publications will be revised soon, and the administration might, for the first time, allow private businesses into this trade.

Smuggling and the illegal production of VCDs have seriously endangered the state's publication industry, Tuo said.

Since 1996, law enforcement teams have ferreted out more than 80 illegal production lines.

Professionals estimate the total yearly consumption of audio-visual products to be valued at between 15 and 20 billion yuan (about 2 billion U.S. dollars). However, sales of legal products only reached 1.4 billion yuan in 1998.

"Protecting this market is a long-term job for us," Tuo said.

Chinese top leaders have often stressed the importance of safeguarding intellectual property.