Daren Tang, Director General of WIPO, Attended the Opening Ceremony of the 3rd CIIE and Delivered a Video Speech

November 5, 2020

The Opening Ceremony of the 3rd China International Import Expo (CIIE) was held in Shanghai on the evening of November 4th, 2020. Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered a video speech at the Ceremony.

President Xi mentioned that the COVID-19 pandemic has added to the instability and uncertainty facing the world economy. But the pace of opening up in China has continued to quicken this year. The overwhelming trend for countries to move toward openness and cooperation remains unchanged. President Xi pointed out that the measures he announced at last year’s CIIE have been implemented to the full. China has taken steady steps to expand imports. The Master Plan for the Development of Hainan Free Trade Port and the Implementation Plan for Further Reform and Opening-up in Shenzhen have both been released and taken effect. Good progress has been registered in concluding high-standard free trade agreements, developing demonstration zones for creative promotion of import trade, protecting intellectual property rights, and advancing high-quality Belt and Road cooperation.

Going forward, China will stay committed to openness, cooperation and unity for win-win results. China will steadfastly expand all-round opening up and explore more efficient ways to connect domestic and foreign markets and share factors of production and resources. China's aim is to turn the China market into a market for the world, a market shared by all, and a market accessible to all. This way, China will be able to bring more positive energy to the global community. First, China will nurture new pacesetters of opening up. Second, China will pursue creative ways to grow foreign trade. Third, China will keep improving its business environment. Fourth, China will pursue deeper bilateral, multilateral and regional cooperation.

Regarding IP protection, President Xi stressed that China will continue to make its foreign-related legal framework more open and transparent, strengthen intellectual property protection, better protect the lawful rights and interests of foreign investors and provide them with more high-quality services to further improve the business environment.

President Xi also expressed high hopes for the 3rd CIIE, ‘I am confident that the third CIIE will be a safe, exciting and successful expo for all of you.’

Mr. Daren Tang, Director General of WIPO, was invited to attend the Ceremony and deliver a video speech. During his speech, Mr. Tang spoke highly of China’s achievements in controlling the COVID-19 pandemic and revitalizing its economy. The 3rd CIIE exemplifies China’s adherence and determination to deepening reform and opening up, as it attracts a significant number of foreign entrepreneurs and enterprises with their goods and services being on exhibition and accessing the Chinese market. The 3rd CIIE contributes to China’s innovation-driven development, as it provides channels for China to learn from the most advanced and innovative technologies, which will promote the industrial upgrading and boost high-quality business growth.

Mr. Tang appreciated recent development and progress regarding China’s endeavors in protecting IP and promoting innovation, making the following remarks:

• China retained its 14th place in the GII 2020 rankings, establishing itself as an innovation leader as the only middle-income economy in the GII top 30 for many years. China hosted 17 of the top science and technology clusters worldwide – with Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou and Beijing in the 2nd and 4th place, respectively.
• The number of applications of Industry Design in China has ranked first worldwide for many years. The recent adoption of the Fourth Amendment to the Patent Law will pave the way significantly to China’s accession to the Hague System.
• Internal procedures are undertaking regarding China’s ratification of the Marrakesh Treaty.
• China has outlined its blueprint for higher-quality growth with deeper reform and wider opening-up measures to further turn Shenzhen into a hub of innovation, entrepreneurship and creativity with regional and global influence, and to set up Beijing Pilot Free Trade Zone which enables foreign arbitration institutions to provide services.
• China had become the top source of international patent applications via the PCT System in 2019, and is likely to remain the biggest user of the PCT System in 2020 as China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) received a total of 29,500 PCT applications in the first half of 2020, with a year-on-year increase of 22.6%.
• Since 2018, China had already become the 3rd biggest user of Madrid System.

Mr. Tang pointed out that the architecture that had been put in place to promote innovation and protect IP by the Government of China, together with the vibrancy of Chinese people and enterprises, had contributed to China’s spectacular innovation performance and IP ecosystem development. Mr. Tang said that WIPO will co-host the 3rd International Cooperation Forum on the Fight Against IPR Infringement and Counterfeiting during the 3rd CIIE with State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) of China and remain committed to cooperating with China in the area of IP. As a leading agency dedicated to IP protection, WIPO will work toward the construction of an inclusive, balanced, vibrant and forward-looking global IP ecosystem that serves the interests of all countries and their stakeholders.

The Opening Ceremony was presided over by Mr. Hu Chunhua. Chinese Vice Premier, Mr. Han Zheng, Chinese Vice Premier and Mr. Li Qiang, Party Secretary of the Shanghai Municipal Committee of CPC attended the Ceremony. H.E. Arif Alvi, President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, H.E. Aleksandar Vučić, President of the Republic of Serbia, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of World Health Organization, Mr. Yi Xiaozhun, Deputy Director General of World Trade Organization, and Heads and Presidents from several countries and international organizations were invited to attend the Opening Ceremony and expressed their expectations to the 3rd CIIE.