Lighting Up the Mind of the Print Disabled

January 19, 2023

On January 17, Ms. Liu Hua, Director of WIPO Office in China (WOC) delivered an opening speech at the event of Implementing the Marrakesh Treaty in Beijing.

(Photo: China Press, Publication, Radio and Television News)

In her speech, Ms. Liu said that the Marrakesh Treaty administered by WIPO is the world's first and so far the only treaty that combines both copyright and human rights protection, and is of great significance in addressing the book famine faced by 314 million visually impaired people worldwide. Since the Marrakesh Treaty entered into force in China on 5 May last year, China has actively promoted the implementation of the treaty, formulated the Interim Rules on the Provision of Works to the Print Disabled in an Accessible Way and organized a variety of activities.

Ms. Liu commended the achievements of WIPO's work in China in 2022, such as the close high-level and policy cooperation, sharing China's IP stories worldwide, China's rising in GII ranking, expansion of WIPO's ADR service in China, and WIPO's ehanced image and influence in China's social media, and she also introduced the priorities of WIPO's work in China in 2023. She said that 2023 will mark the 50th anniversary of the cooperation between two sides, and that WIPO will continue to work closely with China to help China build an innovative country.

The event was jointly organized by the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Press and Publication (Beijing Municipal Bureau of Copyright), the Beijing Disabled Persons' Federation and the China Press and Publication Media Group under the theme of "Lighting Up the Mind of the Print Disabled". Nearly 50 representatives from copyright management departments, industry associations, enterprises and media attended the event.