(Yicai Global) March 5 -- China should bring industry data into the spotlight and draft new laws to ensure its protection, according to the chairman of Huagong Tech, which makes laser equipment and optical communication devices.

"We should pay more attention to the security of information right now than ever before as we become a world manufacturing power" Ma Xinqiang told Yicai Global on the sidelines of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, one of China's Two Sessions, or annual meetings of its national legislature and political advisory body.

Existing laws focus more on the protection of personal information, but no legislation is in place to deal with problems that can occur during the collection, processing, usage or storage of data in industrial manufacturing, he added in a policy suggestion submission sent to the National People's Congress, China's legislature.

Laws on industry data protection must specify the rights, obligations and liabilities of each party during these four processes, Ma said.

He also wants the government to encourage construction of national industry bases for cyber security in major industrial cities and to enhance ties between manufacturing and network security to facilitate the application of key technologies.

Authorities should improve national and local monitoring systems to detect and handle security risks, and set up professional courses at universities and vocational and technical schools to cultivate talent for the information security sector, Ma added.

Editor: James Boynton