Top officials yesterday called on Western countries to be patient and allow China more time to develop a mature system for protecting intellectual property rights (IPR).

"In merely 20-odd years it is impossible for China to establish IPR protection awareness similar to that of Western countries," Yin Xintian, spokesman with the State Intellectual Property Office (SIPO), said at a press conference.

"As the country's economy expands, so does the production scale of each product," Yin said.

"Taking all the factors into consideration, it is natural that there will be some piracy."

Yin said IPR infringement, especially piracy and counterfeiting, was a global issue facing all countries, including the developed ones.

Last week, guidelines on a national IPR strategy were approved at an executive meeting of the State Council presided by Premier Wen Jiabao.

The strategy includes greater efforts to crack down on IPR infringement, safeguard market order and the legal rights of the public, strengthen international cooperation, adherence to international practice, and efforts to raise public awareness.

"China is a large, responsible, developing country. We are resolute on IPR protection issues and have taken concrete steps," Yin said.