WIPO Director General Meets Chinese Premier

Geneva, October 15, 1999
Press Updates UPD/1999/72

The Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Dr. Kamil Idris, met with the Prime Minister of the People’s Republic of China, Mr. Zhu Rongji, in Beijing on October 13, 1999 to discuss bilateral relations. Dr. Idris described the meeting as "very useful and a reflection of the excellent relations between WIPO and the Government of China."

The meeting with the Prime Minister, which was also attended by Mrs. Jiang Ying, Commissioner of the State Intellectual Property Office (SIPO), Mr. Wang Zhongfu, Commissioner, State Administration for Industry and Commerce (SAIC) and Mr. Yu Youxian, Commissioner of National Copyright Administration of China (NCAC), came at the end of a three day visit to China that also took Dr. Idris to Shanghai and Kunming, known as "City of Eternal Spring" in the southwest province of Yunnan.

In the meeting with the Prime Minister, Dr. Idris welcomed China’s efforts to modernize and strengthen its intellectual property system. Dr. Idris underlined the importance of a robust intellectual property infrastructure in meeting the challenges of the next millennium and strengthen the knowledge-based economy. The Prime Minister, acknowledging WIPO’s positive role in training Chinese experts and providing legal and technical assistance, expressed appreciation for WIPO’s efforts to strengthen cooperation with China on intellectual property matters and to provide assistance to developing countries.

In Beijing, Dr. Idris also attended the opening of the International Symposium on Knowledge-Based Economy and Intellectual Property where he made a statement on the growing importance of intellectual property in the digital age, a time when intellectual property assets increasingly define the wealth of nations. The Symposium was jointly organized by the Chinese Government and WIPO.

During his visit to China, Dr. Idris also received an honorary Doctorate degree from Fudan University in Shanghai. He thanked University representatives as well as the Academic Degree Office of the State Council for the honor bestowed upon him. In his acceptance speech, he reiterated the need for distinguished academic institutions like Fudan University to include intellectual property teaching in their curricula. He said Fudan University had made positive efforts in this area and that WIPO is prepared to assist the University in formulating programs for the teaching of intellectual property.

In Shanghai, Dr. Idris also met with Mr. Xu Guangdi, Mayor of Shanghai, Mr. Yu Youxian, Commissioner of NCAC and Mr. Wang Zhenshing, Director of the Academic Degree Office of the State Council, who came to Shanghai from Beijing to attend the Conferment Ceremony.

In Kunming, the Director General opened WIPO’s Regional Symposium on Collective Management of Copyright and Related Rights, which was jointly organized by WIPO and the Chinese Government. He also met with Mr. Li Jiating, Governor of the Yunnan Province. Dr. Idris wrapped up his visit to Kunming with a stop-over at the International Horticulture Exhibition in the company of Governor Li.

For further information, please contact the Media Relations and Public Affairs Section at WIPO:

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