BEIJING - China on Tuesday hailed the signing of an international treaty in Beijing by the World Intellectual Property Organization on protecting audio-visual performers' rights.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei made the remark at a regular press conference.

The WIPO Diplomatic Conference on the Protection of Audiovisual Performances on Tuesday concluded negotiations on a "Beijing Treaty" that will shore up the rights of audiovisual performers.

The clause will strengthen the economic rights of actors and audiovisual performers and provide extra income from their work.

It will potentially enable performers to share proceeds with producers for revenues generated internationally by audiovisual productions. It will also grant performers moral rights to prevent lack of attribution or distortion of their performances.

China highly appreciates the positive efforts made by the WIPO Secretariat and delegations from all WIPO member countries, said Hong.

He said he believes that the finalization of the Beijing Treaty will greatly boost international cooperation on the protection of intellectual property rights and further advance the development of China's IPR protection.

He expressed China's pleasure in hosting the conference and contributing to the signing of the treaty, which have demonstrated sound cooperative relations between China and the WIPO, as well as China's willingness to promote international IPR cooperation.

The conference, which runs from June 20 to 26, is being convened by the WIPO and hosted by the Chinese government.