BEIJING, April 12 (Xinhua) -- While strengthening intellectual property rights (IPR) protection for foreign companies, China calls on foreign governments to improve protection of Chinese IPR.

"As Chinese firms expand overseas and participate in international competition, we need foreign governments to protect our IPR and the rights of Chinese companies," said Shen Changyu, head of the State Intellectual Property Office, in an interview with Xinhua.

In 2017, China ranked the second in international patent applications, with some 51,000 Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) applications submitted.

China is also the third largest applicant for trademark registration under the Madrid System with 4,810 applications in 2017, up 59.6 percent.

"China opposes abuse of IPR rules, and trade protectionism in the guise of protecting IPR," Shen said. "China is ready to work with other countries to build inclusive, balanced and effective international IPR rules."

Shen said his office will help build a unified, open market with orderly competition, and a stable, fair, transparent and predictable business environment.

Shen said his restructured agency would accelerate establishment of an IPR protection system of trademarks, patents, and geographical indications, and work with agencies overseas.

Shen said China encourages technological exchange to support high-quality growth.

In the last five years, China investigated and dealt with 192,000 patent and 173,000 trademark infringement cases. IPR courts and courtrooms have been set up across the country.

Shen said a fourth revision of the Patent Law will come faster than expected. "We are introducing a punitive damages system for IPR infringement to ensure offenders pay a big price."