The theme for World Consumer Rights Day this year is "Making Digital Marketplaces Fairer". China's government-backed consumer rights group has criticized major e-commerce platforms in the country for allegedly selling or letting third-party merchants sell counterfeit products. Is China doing enough to secure the rights of consumers? Li Jianhua finds out.

Backpacks, kitchen utensils, pillows and slippers, you can buy almost anything online. Despite the convenience it brings, problems are lurking -- counterfeit products! Are counterfeits truly a problem in China?

"I think more fake products can be found in the market. Communication in the past was not as developed as it is now. The rapid development of information sharing is contributing to fake product manufacturing."

"I've never found fake products online. I once brought home some defective products, but they changed them for me."

"I bought some fake products, but I didn't call the hotline which deals with consumer complaints. I argued with the merchants, but there was no solution, and they kept saying the product was real."

Official figures show that 14 percent of online complaints in the nation were against cross-border e-commerce platforms in the first half of 2017.

In a test carried out in February, the China Consumers Association found that counterfeits were purchased from nine of 16 targeted shops, and 16 of 53 well-known foreign products couldn't be authenticated.

Officials from the e-commerce companies have declined to comment. Chinese authorities say they are stepping up efforts to clamp down on counterfeits on e-commerce platforms.

YUN YUE, SECTION CHIEF CHAOYANG BRANCH, BEIJING ADMIN. FOR INDUSTRY & COMMERCE "The Chaoyang Branch of the Beijing Administration for Industry and Commerce has signed framework agreements with four e-commerce platforms in the district. We send reports about consumer complaints, product quality and trademark infringement regularly to these e-commerce companies, in the hope of motivating them to perfect their management and protect consumers' rights."

However, experts are saying a more coordinated mechanism should be set up among all the departments involved when it comes to fighting counterfeit production.

LI HONGHAN RESEARCH FELLOW, RENMIN UNIVERSITY "The pricing is managed by the NDRC, China's economic planner. The product's quality is controlled by the State Quality Inspection Administration. When it comes to trademark infringement, it is the Administration for Industry and Commerce. The public security department may also be involved for inspection. And the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology is also involved in terms of online purchases. But I don't see a coordinated mechanism among them."

The expert is also suggesting Chinese consumers' tolerance towards fake products is not helping.

LI JIANHUA BEIJING "Lots of efforts have been made to crack down on counterfeit products on China's e-commerce platforms. Earlier, I spoke to some of these platforms, including those you may use every day, but none of them wanted to be interviewed, as - they all said - they have some concerns. LJH, CGTN, BJ."