China's securities regulator on Friday vowed to improve investor protection, conduct thorough evaluations of initial public offerings (IPOs) and impose stringent penalties for regulatory violations to raise the quality of listed companies.

At the China Securities Regulatory Commission's (CSRC) first post-Chinese New Year briefing, Li Ming, head of the CSRC's enforcement bureau, emphasized the pivotal role of rigorous inspection and enforcement in the commission's regulatory framework, asserting it as essential for maintaining market order and safeguarding investor rights.

"A market's vitality and growth hinge on the universal trust in its fairness and equity," Li said. "We remain committed to diligently prosecuting each case of securities infringement to uphold the law."

The CSRC also announced plans to intensify its crackdown on fraudulent listings, financial fraud and misappropriation of funds by major shareholders to restore confidence in the stock market.

The strategy includes employing collective lawsuits, litigation support and criminal prosecutions to amplify the deterrent effect on wrongdoers.

The A-share market saw a surge in its three primary indices on Friday, while the market continued to see the post-Chinese New Year trend of significant stock buybacks by numerous listed companies.

Yang Delong, chief economist at First Seafront Fund, remarked that the recent prevalent buyback trend among listed companies has markedly enhanced market vibrancy and bolstered investor confidence, demonstrating the potency of substantial share repurchases as a means to fortify investor trust.