China Harnesses the Power of IP to Grow and Develop

May 29, 2023

The opening ceremony of the 2023 Zhongguancun Forum was held in Beijing on May 25, 2023, themed “Open Cooperation for a Shared Future”.

Mr. Daren Tang, Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) delivered a video speech. Yin Li, Secretary of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee, read out a congratulatory letter from Chinese President Xi Jinping.

President Xi pointed out that as a new round of sci-tech revolution and industrial transformation continues to evolve, mankind needs international cooperation, openness and sharing more than ever in order to address common development problems. Committed to a win-win strategy of opening-up, China is ready to join hands with other countries to promote sci-tech innovation and make science and technologies better serve people of all countries.

Xi stressed that Beijing should fully leverage its strengths in education, science, technologies and talent, coordinate sci-tech and institutional innovation, continue to promote pilot reforms in Zhongguancun, further accelerate the construction of a world-leading sci-tech park, and strive to take the lead in the innovation of cutting-edge technologies and the development of advanced and sophisticated industries.Ms. Wang said that WIPO highly appreciated the good cooperative relationship with the BFA and regarded it as one of its most important partners. She was pleased that the BFA has included intellectual property (IP) as the topic of its annual conference and has become one of its five permanent thematic forums. WIPO will continue to support the work of the BFA and looks forward to working with the BFA to jointly further the role of IP in supporting and promoting sustainable development of IP in nations of Asia as well as of the world.

In his speech, Director General Tang welcomed China’s commitment to IP protection as part of its focus on high quality development. China’s impressive achievements in intellectual property over recent decades, and its 50-year relationship with WIPO, are just the latest chapter in the 5000-year journey of Chinese innovation, invention, and creativity. In this latest chapter, China has harnessed the power of IP to grow and develop.

Tang noted that China ranked 11 in the 2022 Global Innovation Index (GII). Now, China is on the cusp of entering the global top ten, and is the only middle-income country inside the GII top 15. China is now the top user of WIPO’s PCT system, the third largest user of the Madrid system, and the second largest user of the Hague System. Two Chinese SMEs – Suzhou’s Raycan and Shanghai’s Shylon – were amongst the first five winners of WIPO's Global IP Awards.

Tang said that Zhongguancun plays a key role in the innovation ecosystem of Beijing and China, and the Zhongguancun forum has become a well-known platform for the exchange of ideas, networking and vibrancy.

About the Zhongguancun Forum

Since its inception in 2007, the Zhongguancun Forum has been successfully held for 13 times. It is an important window of international communication for China to actively participate in the global science and technology innovation practice and global science and technology governance. Themed "Open Cooperation for a Shared Future", this year’s Zhongguancun Forum features six sections: forum meetings, technology transactions, exhibitions, achievements release, competitions, and supporting activities. There will be more than 150 events. Over 100 world-renowned experts, including 17 Nobel Prize-level guests, will deliver speeches, exchange their ideas and discuss innovation plans.