(Yicai Global) Jan. 30 -- The Chinese government is acutely aware of the importance of protecting intellectual property rights and China has no way to compel foreign companies to transfer technology to it, said Miao Wei, head of the country's industry and information technology ministry, reiterating today China's stance on Made in China 2025.

China's industrial policies mainly aim to foster a favorable market environment to promote industrial transformation and upgrading. Made in China 2025, the Chinese government's program of action for the first ten years to implement the strategy of transforming China from a large manufacturing power to a strong manufacturing one, and other policies always adhere to the principle of market domination tempered with government guidance. Chinese manufacturing will hew to market-oriented reform, which is also the starting point for the implementation of Made in China 2025-related policies, Miao said.

"I said in this room last March that it was impossible for the Chinese government to require state-owned enterprises to forcibly transfer technology even in the planned economy, and it is absolutely impossible to force a foreign-funded enterprise to transfer technology today. The technology transfer should follow the principle of free-volition and be of the enterprise's own free will," Miao said.

Policy principles apply to all ownership forms in China, including domestic and foreign-funded enterprises, he noted. The Chinese government has always committed to bolstering protection of intellectual property rights and China does not and cannot force foreign firms to transfer technology to China. China will continue to expand its opening to the outside world while encouraging Chinese companies to go global. the country welcomes firms from all around the world -- including the US -- to come for business and to share the achievements of reform and opening, Miao added.