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Geographical Indications Promote Brand Building and Sustainable Development, a Way Out in the Post-pandemic Era (Ⅳ)

June 30, 2022

On June 26, Liu Hua, Director of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Office in China, attended the 2022 China International Conference for the Cooperation of Geographical Indication Quality Brands and delivered an opening speech.

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Photo: China Council for the Promotion of International Trade

Liu Hua noted that against the background of centenary changes intertwined with the pandemic, the world is full of uncertainties. However, intellectual property (IP) is playing an increasingly important role in driving economic recovery and sustainable development. As an United Nations agency for IP, WIPO provides five sets of keys to the door of golden knowledge assets, including the policy forum, registration systems, databases, cooperation platforms and capacity-building platform.

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Photo: China Council for the Promotion of International Trade

Liu Hua pointed out that geographical indications (GIs) are an important form of intangible asset and intellectual property. As a key branding tool and a sign of quality and authenticity, GIs help consumers distinguish and trace the origin of products and confirm their quality, and contribute to economic, social and cultural development. WIPO is committed to promoting the international protection of GIs. Under the Madrid International Trademark Registration System (Madrid System), GIs can obtain registration and protection in the forms of collective marks and certification marks. The Lisbon System of International Appellations of Origin and Geographical Indications (Lisbon System) provides a more direct channel for the registration and protection of GIs. WIPO also organizes biennial Worldwide Symposiums on Geographical Indications to enhance the awareness of the protection and application of GIs across the globe.

Liu Hua highlighted the achievements China has made in protecting the GIs in recent years. By the end of 2021, China had registered a total of 6,562 GI trademarks and recognized 2,490 GI-protected products. It is worth noting that the 14th Five-Year Plan for the Protection and Application of Geographical Indications issued by China National Intellectual Property Administration in 2021 expressly emphasizes the strengthening of GI brand building and the development of GI industries. Liu Hua said that GIs are providing a constant impetus for China's rural revitalization and sustainable development. Looking ahead, WIPO looks forward to China's early entry into the Lisbon System and hopes that more geographical indication products from China will go global through WIPO's global registration system.

The 2022 China International Conference for the Cooperation of Geographical Indication Quality Brands was co-hosted by China Council for the Promotion of International Trade and the People’s Government of Hebei Province. Wen Xue, Counsellor of the WOC also made presentation on the international protection of GIs and the Lisbon System of WIPO. At the conference, representatives from academia, enterprises and institutions discussed the brand building and "Going Global" strategy for GIs. In addition, the conference also provided a platform for domestic and international buyers and GI enterprises to exhibit and discuss cooperation.

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