By Xinhua
Beijing : Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao told visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel Monday that his government would cooperate closely with Germany to prevent computer hackers operating across international boundaries.
Wen was responding to a reporter’s question concerning a reported Chinese hacker’s attack on the computer networks of the German government.
“The Chinese government attaches great importance to the hacker attack on the German government networks,” Wen said, adding China would take “determined” and “forceful” measures to combat hacker activities.
Wen held official talks with Merkel for an hour Monday in the Great Hall of the People, in which the two agreed to list protection of intellectual property rights (IPR) as an important topic for bilateral strategic dialogue.
“IPR protection is not only an issue between countries, but also a requirement for China itself in its development,” Wen said.
He vowed to take all efficient measures, especially legal, to punish IPR violators.
Merkel said she believed China had set up a sound legal base for IPR protection, while calling on specific measures to fulfil the policies.
Wen also pledged China would shoulder its obligations in fighting climate change and was committed to improving energy efficiency.
Regarding climate change as a common challenge for the international community, Wen said China stuck to a strategy of sustainable development and had achieved remarkable progress in tackling climate change and improving the ecological environment.
The Chinese government has announced its first national action plan to respond to climate change and set the goal of reducing energy consumption per unit of gross domestic product by 20 percent and major pollutant discharges by 10 percent by the end of 2010, Wen said.
“It will be extremely difficult to reach these targets but we have already shown our determination,” Wen told Merkel, adding China had a much tougher task than Germany.
Merkel said Germany was willing to step up cooperation with China on the issue of climate change. She called on all countries to stick to the fundamental principle of “common but differentiated responsibility”, under the framework of the United Nations, and work together to tackle climate change issue.
Merkel arrived in Beijing Sunday on her second official visit to China as German chancellor.
During her four-day visit she will also meet Chinese President Hu Jintao and top legislator Wu Bangguo.