WIPO Director General Daren Tang: Chinese Economy Demonstrated Resilience and Dynamism

November 15, 2020

The WIPO-CNIPA Awards for Outstanding Patented Invention were granted at the Opening Ceremony of the 12th China International Patent Fair (CIPF) on November 11, 2020. Mr. Shen Changyu, Commissioner of the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA), Mr. Liu Ning, Governor and Deputy Secretary of the Liaoning Provincial Municipal Committee, Mr. Tan Zuo Jun, Secretary of the Dalian Municipal Committee, Ms. Liu Hua, Director of the WIPO Office in China (WOC) attended the Opening Ceremony and granted the Awards.

The WIPO-CNIPA Awards for Outstanding Industrial Design were granted at the Opening Ceremony of the 16th China Wuxi International Design Expo on November 14, 2020. Mr. Shen Changyu, Commissioner of the CNIPA, Mr. Ma Qiulin, Deputy Governor of Jiangsu Province, Ms. Liu Hua, Director of the WOC and Mr. Huang Qin, Secretary of the Wuxi Municipal Committee, attended the Opening Ceremony and granted the Awards.

WIPO Director General Daren Tang delivered speeches at both the Awards Granting Ceremonies respectively. Mr. Tang stated that the WIPO-CNIPA Awards for Chinese Outstanding Patented Invention and Industrial Design have now become the most important and influential intellectual property (IP) awards in China, setting a remarkable benchmark for technological innovation and presenting China’s remarkable achievements in innovation, protection and promotion of IP. WIPO believes that the WIPO-CNIPA Awards are perfect examples on how to transform the IP filings to enterprise growth, and ultimately to economic and social progress.

Mr. Tang appreciated the spectacular innovation performance of China in the past years. Chinese President Xi Jinping highlighted science and technology serve as the primary productive force and innovation as the primary driving force of development. As a developing country, China has given its persistent planning for innovation and policy implementation in facilitating innovation.

Mr. Tang pointed out that China’s success in pandemic containment, work resumption and economic recovery has once again demonstrated the resilience and dynamism of its economy. In this process, innovation and creativity are key and IP plays a powerful role. WIPO noted with appreciation the recent development and progress in China’s innovation and creation endeavors. 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. WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Shanghai Services (Shanghai Services) was established in 2019, with 17 cases referred to the Shanghai Services, two of which have been successfully settled through mediation. The pilot reform plan for Shenzhen will further turn it into a hub of innovation, entrepreneurship and creativity with regional and global influence. The set-up of Beijing Pilot Free Trade Zone will enable foreign arbitration institutions to provide services. The China-EU bilateral agreement will provide further protection of geographical indications against usurpation and imitation in China and beyond.

Mr. Tang noted that in the globalizing and digitalizing world, WIPO sees great future in China’s national strategy of innovation-driven development and remains committed to cooperating with China in the area of IP.

As a leading agency in IP protection and promotion, WIPO will work towards the construction of an inclusive, balanced, vibrant and forward-looking global IP ecosystem that serves the interests of all countries and their stakeholders, ensures that the institutions, companies, policymakers, users and all stakeholders in our global innovation community can participate in, and benefit from, this global IP ecosystem, and broadens its perspective of IP beyond its legal and technical aspects to its powerful role as a supporter of entrepreneurs and enterprises, catalyst for investments, driver of economic growth and a promoter of social vibrancy.

Ms. Liu Hua, Director of the WOC granted the Awards for Outstanding Patented Invention and Outstanding Industrial Design at the two Opening Ceremonies respectively.

Mr. Shen Changyu, Commissioner of the CNIPA, pointed out that IP provides great support to high-quality economy development. Awards for Outstanding Patented Invention and Industrial Design are an important starting point for promoting the high-quality IP development. Both Fair and Expo have built high-end platforms for the exhibition and transaction of outstanding patents and industrial design. He hoped that all parties could make full use of these platforms and actively explore patent technology transactions and provide strong impetus for high-quality economic development.