Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao yesterday called on domestic exporters to develop their own brands and intellectual property rights and improve product quality.

In a brief meeting with the entrepreneurs attending the 2008 Summer Davos, also known as the Annual Meeting of New Champions, Wen acknowledged that China's exports have been growing very quickly, but they do lack brands and their own IPRs in particular.

"The competition in the current world is actually decided by intellectual property rights," he told the entrepreneurs shortly before addressing the opening ceremony of the economic forum organized by the prestigious World Economic Forum.

Wen said he believed the intelligent Chinese people would finally be able to build their own brand names for exports, if provided with right policies and a liberal and equal environment.

But the premier also warned that "it is going to be a tough process."

Wen also exchanged views on China's macro-economic policies and food safety as well as the current financial crisis with the entrepreneurs.