IP As the Core Business Value

November 6, 2021

The Opening Ceremony of the 4th China International Import Expo (CIIE) was held in Shanghai on the evening of November 4th. Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered a video speech at the Ceremony. Ms. Liu Hua, Director of WIPO Office in China, attended the Opening Ceremony as invited.

In his speech, President Xi mentioned that the measures he announced at the third CIIE for further opening up have mostly been implemented. At present, the world is experiencing the combined impacts of major changes and a pandemic both unseen in a century. Unilateralism and protectionism are on the rise, and economic globalization is facing headwinds. For a boat to sail upstream, it has to forge ahead or be driven backward. China must stay on top of the prevailing trend of economic globalization, and support countries around the world in opening up wider while rejecting unilateralism and protectionism. This is significantly important if we are to take humanity to a better future.

President Xi emphasized that opening up is the hallmark of contemporary China. China will not change its resolve to open wider at a high standard; China will not change its determination to share development opportunities with the rest of the world; and China will not change its commitment to an economic globalization that is more open, inclusive, balanced and beneficial for all.

First, China will firmly safeguard true multilateralism. Second, China will firmly share market opportunities with the rest of the world. Third, China will firmly promote high-standard opening up. Fourth, China will firmly uphold the common interests of the world.

The Sub-forum on Intellectual Property Protection and Business Environment Optimization under the 4th Hongqiao International Economic Forum co-hosted by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCIPT), China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) and National Copyright Administration of China (NCAC) was held in Shanghai on November 5, 2021. Ms. Gao Yan, Chairperson of CCIPT, Mr. Zhang Jianchun, Vice Minister of Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, Mr. Gan Shaoning, Deputy Commissioner of CNIPA, Mr. Zhang Junkuo, Vice President of Development Research Center of the State Council and Mr. Luiz Henrique do Amaral attended the Opening Ceremony and delivered speeches. Ms. Wang Binying, Deputy Director General of World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) sent a congratulatory letter to the sub-forum. Ms. Liu Hua, Director of WIPO Office in China (WOC) attended the Opening Ceremony and presented the congratulatory letter from Ms. Wang Binying. Mr. Carsten Fink participated the Panel Discussion as invited.

Ms. Wang Binying mentioned in the congratulatory letter that a good business environment is a key component to vitalize the market, boosting entrepreneurship, and expanding opening-up. Intellectual Property (IP) ecosystem is one of the core values for setting up a solid and healthy business environment. It plays essential role in making business competitive.

Ms. Wang Binying commended China on its achievements made in the field of IP over the past decades, and noted with delight that the holistic, integrated and balanced approach will continue in its new 14th Five-Year Plan through the Year 2035, as well as in its follow-up 15-Year Plan (2021-2035) on the development of IP rights (IPR) power released recently, where IP is positioned high and important. China’s endeavor to revive its economic recovery while fighting against the current pandemic situation has been widely recognized and well reflected in the Global Innovation Index 2021 recently released by WIPO, under which China ranks 12th position with 10 indicators including patent, trademark, industrial design and creative good exports among the top. All of these demonstrate that in just a few decades, China has established an efficient and modern IP system that has helped improve its business environment and drive the country's economic and social development to move forward.

WIPO, as the specialized agency of the United Nations on IP, will reinforce its traditional areas of strength, as the provider of global IP services and the convener of the international IP community, and ensure that IP undertakings as a powerful catalyst for jobs, investments, economic development and social vibrancy in all countries of the world, making IP relevant to all. China has been WIPO’s important and longstanding partner, and WIPO is committed to work along with China and other Member States to empower the global economy with a more inclusive, balanced, vibrant and forward-looking IP ecosystem.

About the Hongqiao International Economic Forum and the Sub-forum on Intellectual Property Protection and Business Environment Optimization

The Sub-forum on Intellectual Property Protection and Business Environment Optimization under the 4th Hongqiao International Economic Forum focused on the efforts and achievements of China in enhancing intellectual property protection and optimizing the business environment, strengthening the confidence of enterprises from various countries in trade and investment cooperation with China, which reflects China's responsibility as a major country to build a fair, transparent and open business environment.