WIPO Director General Daren Tang Extended Congratulations on the Opening of the First Conference of ISTIF

November 11, 2020

The Opening Ceremony of the First Conference of International Science, Technology and Innovation Forum (ISTIF) of Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) was held in Macao on November 10, 2020.

Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory message to the opening of the Conference. Chinese Vice Premier Han Zheng delivered a keynote speech via video. Mr. Ban Ki-moon, Chairman of BFA, Mr. Ho Hau Wah, Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and President of ISTIF, Mr. Zhou Xiaochuan, Vice Chairman of BFA, Mrs. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Board Member of BFA and Former President of the Philippines, Mr. Ho Iat Seng, Chief Executive of the Macao SAR, Mrs. Carrie Lam, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong SAR, Mr. Zhang Xiaoming, Deputy Director of the State Council's Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office, Mr. Fu Ziying, Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao SAR and other high-level officials attended and addressed the opening ceremony. Mr. Li Baodong, Secretary-General of BFA presided over the opening ceremony.

Mr. Ho Hau Wah, on behalf of Chinese President Xi Jinping, delivered the Congratulatory Message.

Congratulatory Letter from Chinese President Xi Jinping.

President Xi pointed out that in the world today, an exciting new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation has brought profound changes to human development and provided a new pathway to resolving and tackling global issues and challenges related to development. President Xi stressed that science and technology should deliver benefits to all humanity. The world is facing the COVID-19 pandemic and various other challenges. China will work with other countries to strengthen scientific and technological innovation and cooperation and to promote international exchanges that are more open, inclusive and mutually beneficial, thus jointly contributing to global recovery and to the health of the people.

President Xi attached great hopes to the Conference, he noted that The Conference of the International Science, Technology and Innovation Forum will provide an important platform for international exchange and cooperation on scientific and technological innovation. It will boost technological advancement in Asia and beyond, and facilitate the innovation-driven development of the Guangdong-Hongkong-Macao Greater Bay Area. I hope that at this Conference themed "Innovation Empowers Sustainable Development", delegates will fully share ideas, increase common understanding and promote cooperation to bring greater benefits of scientific and technological innovation to people all around the world.

Keynote Speech from Chinese Vice Premier Mr. Han Zheng.

Mr. Han Zheng, Chinese Vice Premier delivered a keynote speech via video. Mr. Han expressed that President Xi pointed out the way for us to build consensus and enhance international cooperation on science, technology and innovation.

Mr. Han further put forward four proposals.

• Work together to promote open innovation;
• Work together to stand up to global challenges;
• Work together to deliver the benefits of technological innovation to all; and
• Work together to protect intellectual property and pursue technological exchanges and cooperation on the basis of market principles and the rule of law.

Congratulatory Message From Mr. Daren Tang, read by Ms. Liu Hua.

Photo provided by BFA

Mr. Daren Tang, Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) sent a congratulatory message to the opening of the Conference. Ms. Liu Hua, Director of the WIPO Office in China (WOC) represented Mr. Tang to attend the opening ceremony and delivered the message on his behalf. Mr. Ho Hau Wah extended appreciations and greetings to Mr. Tang.

The congratulatory message is as follows.

On the Opening of the First Conference of the International Science, Technology and Innovation Forum (ISTIF), on behalf of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), I would like to extend my warmest congratulations to the organizer of this important event, which will be taking place in Macao, from November 9 to 11, 2020, and our warm greeting to all the participants attending this event both from China and abroad.

According to the newly launched Global Innovation Index (GII) 2020 by WIPO, there is a gradual eastward shift in the cluster of innovation as a group of Asian economies – notably China, India, the Philippines and Viet Nam – have advanced considerably in the innovation ranking over the years. In particular, Asia-based applicants accounted for more than half of PCT applications filed in 2019. Asia is moving towards the center of innovation and creation.

Turning to China, it retains the 14th place, having climbed to the GII top 15 last year establishing itself as an innovation leader as the only middle-income economy in the GII top 30 for many years. China ranks high in important metrics including patents, utility models, trademarks, industrial designs and quality of higher education, hosting 17 of the top science and technology clusters worldwide – with Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou taking the 2nd place, to which the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, I believe, has brought valuable opportunities and innovation resources.

WIPO noted with appreciation the encouraging signs of innovation and creativity in China. The adoption of the Fourth Amendment to the Patent Law will pave the way significantly to China’s accession to the Hague System. The China-EU bilateral agreement will provide further protection of geographical indications against usurpation and imitation in China and beyond. The set-up of Beijing Pilot Free Trade Zone will enable foreign arbitration institutions to provide services, and the pilot reform plan will further turn Shenzhen into a hub of innovation, entrepreneurship and creativity with global influence.

WIPO sees great future in China’s development of innovation, and is confident that China’s strategy of building an innovation-driven economy and commitment to enhance IP protection will bring new impetus to China’s IP undertakings and the cooperation with WIPO.

Amid a new round of scientific and technological revolution, innovation and creativity have increasingly become the primary driving force for the development of all countries in the world. It is worth noting that, the role of scientific and technological innovation in curbing the spreading of the COVID-19 pandemic has shown its incomparable strength. As an indispensable component of the innovation ecosystem, IP is playing a more and more important role in stimulating scientific and technological innovation as well as promoting economic recovery.

Themed on “Innovation Empowers Sustainable Development”, the ISTIF gives decision-makers, regulators, the private sector and other key stakeholders the opportunity to engage in inclusive public-private dialogues and have in-depth exchanges on promoting scientific and technological innovation.  The ISTIF will also encourage participants to zoom out to the regional and global picture and seize opportunities for open innovation that drives collaboration for win-win outcomes and accelerates technological development through IP in times of challenges.

As a leading UN agency in IP protection and promotion, WIPO will continue to work towards the construction of an inclusive, balanced, vibrant and forward-looking global IP ecosystem for the benefit of all countries and all stakeholders.

With that, I wish the First Conference of the ISTIF a great success.

Thank you.