Series of Roundtables 2023 with Government Officials
March 5, 2023
On February 28, the WIPO Office in China (WOC) organized the Roundtable 2023 with the government officials in Beijing. Representatives from the Supreme People’s Court (SPC), the Supreme People’s Procuratorate (SPP), the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, Cyberspace Administration of China, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), Ministry of Education, Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST), Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM), Ministry of Culture and Tourism (MCT), State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR), China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA), Guangdong Administration for Market Regulation, Shanghai Intellectual Property Administration and Intellectual Property Office of Jiangsu Province were invited to the Roundtable.
Ms. Liu Hua, Director of WOC, provided a briefing to the participants on five key highlights of WIPO-China cooperation in 2022.
Firstly, China joined two important WIPO treaties in early 2022: the Hague Agreement, which assists designers in obtaining protection across multiple countries, and the Marrakesh Treaty, which increases access to books for individuals who are blind or print-disabled.
Secondly, Chinese small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) performed well in the inaugural WIPO Global Awards. Two Chinese SMEs, Suzhou Raycan and Shanghai Shylon, were among the five winners of this prestigious award.
Thirdly, the GII 2022 received significant attention and widespread coverage in China. For the first time, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang sent a congratulatory letter to the GII Global Launch. Chinese stakeholders consider the GII to be an objective and comprehensive measurement of innovation, as well as an important indicator for policy- and decision-making.
Fourthly, WIPO's Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) service has provided the business community in China with a new avenue for resolving foreign-related IP disputes. Since launching its arbitration and mediation services in Shanghai in 2019, the number of courts referring cases for WIPO mediation has expanded from 2 to 6 in 2022.
Finally, WIPO has enhanced its social media presence in China through the WIPO Office in China. In 2022, WIPO leveraged new social media platforms such as Baijiahao, Toutiaohao, and Douyin, in addition to Tencent's WeChat, to bring its IP message to a wider audience. A total of 382 posts published in 2022 have registered over 8.4 million views.
Ms. Liu Hua elaborated four priorities in WOC’s work plan 2023 as four Ps:
First, People-centered approach and explain the potential of IP: WOC will collaborate with WIPO headquarters to support a pilot media project and provide tailored content to engage a broader audience on social media platforms, particularly targeting SMEs, women, and youth. WOC will also leverage the World IP Day and WIPO Global Awards to promote inspiring IP stories.
Second, Building partnerships for a balanced global IP ecosystem: WOC will participate in significant events held in China, particularly those related to the 50th Anniversary of the WIPO-China cooperation in 2023. WOC will facilitate China's participation in WIPO's normative agenda and encourage more Chinese enterprises to participate in WIPO Conversation on Frontier Technologies.
Third, Providing high-quality IP services to deliver value to Chinese users: WOC will provide more efficient and effective services to Chinese users of WIPO's services and systems. WOC will also promote WIPO's innovative digital tools and services, such as WIPO IP Portal, ePCT, eMadrid, eHague, and IP Diagnostics.
Fourth, Making IP as powerful policy tools to promote growth and development: WOC will continue to promote China's utilization of WIPO's 10 public-private partnership platforms to achieve its IP interests, particularly the WIPO Technology and Innovation Support Center (TISC) and WIPO GREEN. WOC will also support WIPO's IP education and training programs, such as the WIPO Summer School.
Voices of Participants
Liang Yingda, the Director General of the Department of Strategic Planning of MOST, expressed his gratitude towards WIPO for its extensive efforts in promoting technological innovation and societal progress. The two sides signed and renewed an MOU in 2010 and 2020 respectively, which led to the development of a deep and mutually beneficial partnership, featuring exchange visits, academic seminars, project cooperation, and regular meetings between high-level officials.
In 2022, Premier Li Keqiang and Minister Wang Zhigang also expressed the significance of technological innovation through congratulatory messages sent to the launch of the Global Innovation Index (GII). Liang Yingda commended the thorough thinking and research conducted by WIPO in frontier technologies. He said that the two new innovation waves proposed by WIPO - the "Digital Age" and "Deep Science," represented the key directions for future breakthroughs in science and technology innovation.
MOST looks forward to enhanced cooperation with WIPO including in the two new innovation waves of the "Digital Age" and "Deep Science."
Zhao Xiuling, Deputy Director General of the Copyright Department of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, stated that the first Copyright Law passed by China in 1990 received expert advice from WIPO. WIPO also trained many early Chinese copyright talents. Every step of China's copyright development cannot be achieved without the cooperation with WIPO. Since the establishment of WOC, the two sides have had closer cooperation in all aspects. We have jointly held various conferences and forums, awarded WIPO-NCAC Copyright Awards, enabled the Marrakesh Treaty to be effective in China, cooperated on launching WIPO Case Studies of Best Practice in Copyright Utilization and Protection, and promoted China's vivid materials in the copyright field to the world through the WIPO platform, contributing China’s solutions and experience to global copyright governance.
Ren Aiguang, Deputy Director General of the Department of Science and Technology of MIIT, said that MIIT and WIPO would soon sign an MOU on cooperation, jointly using IP to promote the development of SMEs towards specialization, refinement, uniqueness and novelty. WIPO’s "five sets of golden keys" can be a focus point for cooperation between the two sides in promoting more high-value patents in key areas of industry and information technology. MIIT hopes to conduct important discussions with WIPO in the frontier technology areas, such as artificial intelligence, brain-computer interface, Internet of Things, big data, etc.
Li Ming, Deputy Director General of the Department of Treaty and Law of MOFCOM, said that in recent years, as Chinese enterprises have expanded overseas, their awareness of IP protection has constantly been rising, and their demand for patents, trademarks and copyrights has increased sharply. MOFCOM is willing to strengthen cooperation with WIPO to help Chinese enterprises solve IP-related problems and promote foreign parties to resolve IP-related disputes in China to further optimize the business environment.
Shu Lingmin, Deputy Director General of the International Cooperation Department of SAMR, pointed out that WIPO plays a leading role in the field of global innovation and creation, and also provides many new insights for market regulation, such as in competition policy and trade secrets. WIPO has "five sets of golden keys", and SAMR also has a "toolbox for market regulation". SAMR hopes that the two sides can strengthen cooperation to create a good market environment for innovation and creation.
Tong Bo, Deputy Director General of the Enforcement and Inspection Department of SAMR, expressed that protecting IP rights requires the joint efforts of everyone. In recent years, the Office of National Leading Group on the Fight Against IPR Infringement and Counterfeiting (NLGO) has continuously expanded its scope of cooperation with WIPO, jointly holding the Summit on Fighting Against IPR Infringement and Counterfeiting at the China International Fair for Trade in Services as well as the Forum on International Cooperation in Protecting IPR and Fighting Against Infringement and Counterfeiting at the China International Import Expo. These efforts provided a platform for communication and interaction on IP protection for Chinese and foreign parties and helped the market regulation administrations across the country to improve their supervising ability.
Yan Ping, Counsel of the Department of Policy and Regulations of MCT, hopes to have in-depth cooperation with WIPO in three areas: first, to share China's experience in the development and management of new industries in the field of culture and tourism, and actively participate in the formulation of rules in new fields and new tracks; second, to use the database and major platforms of WIPO to promote the public libraries and overseas tourism centers of MCT to achieve the goal of mutual support and sharing; third, to actively introduce and promote WIPO's global IP systems in the industry, including “one gold mine plus five sets of golden keys".
Yuan Qi, Counsel of the International Cooperation Department of CNIPA, stated that as the department responsible for coordinating foreign-related IP affairs, CNIPA has maintained a traditional friendship and good relations with WIPO for many years. Since the establishment of WOC in 2014, the two sides have carried out in-depth cooperation in promoting cooperation among various departments and promoting the international IP systems in China. Many Chinese enterprises have utilized these systems of WIPO to enter the international market. China's PCT applications have ranked first in the world for three consecutive years, and its Madrid international trademark applications have ranked third for three consecutive years. Since China joined the Hague system last year, the number of design applications has also been very considerable. This year marks the 50th anniversary of China's cooperation with WIPO. The two sides will carry out a series of commemorative activities, hoping that these activities will become a new starting point for cooperation between China and WIPO.
He Jufeng, Counsel of Guangdong Administration for Market Regulation, stated that Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou had ranked second among the world's top science and technology clusters for three consecutive years. The IP development in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area cannot be achieved without the strong support of WIPO and WOC. Guangdong is a major province for foreign trade, and Guangdong enterprises are very eager to expand overseas. He hopes to further strengthen comprehensive and in-depth cooperation with WOC and introduce more WIPO resources to Guangdong.
Yu Chen, Deputy Director General of the Shanghai IP Administration, said that WIPO and Shanghai signed an MOU on cooperation in 2017. The two sides have a long-term, in-depth cooperation foundation and a good working relationship. Shanghai will further strengthen cooperation in conjunction with the four working priorities of WOC, co-organize the Shanghai International IP Forum, increase support for WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Shanghai Service, and promote the effectiveness of the WIPO GREEN project. He hopes that WIPO Director General Daren Tang will visit Shanghai this year and sign a new round of MOU on cooperation.
Zhao Qi, Deputy Director General of the IP Office of Jiangsu Province, expressed that Jiangsu is a major province industries and innovation. In recent years, many activities have received strong support from WIPO, including China (Wuxi) International Design Expo and the Nanjing Zijin International IP Summit. A SME from Jiangsu have won the first-ever WIPO Global Awards. He hopes that WIPO can sign a MOU on cooperation with Jiangsu and enhance the international IP exchange level of Jiangsu through more collaborative projects.
Zhou Lingling, Assistant Counsel of the International Cooperation Bureau of the SPC, introduced the cooperation between the SPC and WIPO in the judicial area after signing an MOU in 2017. This includes participating in the IP Judges Forum, dispatching personnel to serve as the member of WIPO Advisory Board of Judges, collaborating on publishing a collection of typical cases, providing data to the WIPO Lex Database, and supporting and guiding local courts’ participation in WIPO ADR work. She hopes that a special seminar for courts can be jointly held with WIPO this year.
Yang Jianjun, Senior Prosecutor of the Second Rank of the SPP, introduced the establishment of the IP Prosecution Office of the SPP. He stated that they aim to tell good stories of IP prosecution. He hopes to actively cooperate with WIPO and various departments in system construction and case handling, and jointly conduct research on IP in the fields of frontier technologies.
Wang Jian, Director of Division V, the International Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), pointed out that MFA attaches great importance to the leading role of WIPO in promoting IP protection and innovation, and also attaches great importance to deepening exchanges and cooperation with WIPO. Last year, WOC achieved good results in promoting high-level exchanges and domestic innovation exchanges between the two sides. In particular, during his visit to China for the Opening Ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, WIPO Director General Daren Tang's attendance at the banquet hosted by President Xi Jinping, and his meeting with Premier Li Keqiang, have pushed the cooperation to a new level. This year marks the 50th anniversary of China's cooperation with WIPO. MFA hopes that WOC communicates with various departments to jointly carry out commemorative activities, providing more opportunities for cooperation for China to participate deeply in the global IP governance under the WIPO framework.
The participants congratulated WIPO and WOC for the achievements last year and thanked the Roundtable for providing an excellent platform for communication and further understanding the strategic development direction of WIPO. They hoped to further deepen the cooperation with WIPO, make good use of the various services, products and resources of WIPO, support the work of WOC, and jointly promote high-quality development of IP in China.
