Visiting Chinese Minister of Commerce Chen Deming stressed here on Wednesday that China will continue to stick to the policy of opening up and protecting the legitimate rights and interests of foreign-invested enterprises (FIEs) in the country.

Speaking at a joint press conference with Reinhold Mittelehner, the Austrian economic affairs minister, and Christoph Leitl, president of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce, Chen said the Chinese government will step up intellectual property protection, and that all foreign investment enterprises in China will be treated equally.

He called on Austria's small and mid-sized businesses to invest in China, especially in western China where "there are better chances."

China and Austria should amend their agreements on investment protection for better results, Chen said.

In addition to cooperation in traditional industries such as machinery, auto parts and transportation infrastructure, China and Austria can also cooperate in clean energy and environmental protection, Chen said.

Chen was leading a trade mission to Austria. The two countries signed over a dozen cooperation agreements in trade and economy.