On January 6, a national conference of director-generals of local intellectual property offices was held in Beijing via video link. Under the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, the meeting implemented the spirit of the 19th CPC National Congress and all the plenary sessions of the 19th CPC Central Committee and the Economic Work Meeting of the CPC Central Committee in a comprehensive way; the meeting summarized intellectual property rights work carried out in the year of 2021 and deployed the key tasks for 2022 according to the 15-year plan (2021-2035) on the development of intellectual property rights (IPR) power and IPR planning during the 14th Five-Year Plan made by the CPC Central Committee and State Council and on the basis of the arrangement made by the national market oversight meeting.

Important work instructions related to intellectual property rights from State Councilor Wang Yong were conveyed at the meeting. Zhang Gong, chief of the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR), attended the meeting and delivered a speech. Yang Yizheng, group leader of the discipline inspection and supervision group of the National Supervision Committee of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection stationed at SAMR, member of the leading party group of SAMR, attended the meeting. Shen Changyu, commissioner of CNIPA, created a work report.

The representatives participating in the meeting agreed that the important instructions from the State Councilor Wang Yong fully recognized the achievements made in intellectual property rights in 2021, and proposed clear requirements in work performance in 2022. All this reflects the importance attached to intellectual property rights and government concern for the cadres and staff under the national intellectual property system. Those who work under the national intellectual property system are deeply encouraged and inspired and aim to study the system conscientiously and implement it in every detail.

Under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with comrade Xi Jinping at the core, the cadres and staff of the national intellectual property system firmly carried out the decisions made by the Central Committee of CPC and State Council, strengthened the awareness of political organs and consolidated the Party-building in an all-round way in 2021, Zhang Gong pointed out in his speech. With a better understanding of the strategic intention of the Central Committee of CPC and the development of law pertaining to the work of intellectual property rights, they completed the IPR's basic system, deepened international cooperation, improved the business environment, and served the purposed of dual circulation by focusing on the demand of innovation-driven development of market entities. In 2022, the intellectual property right system will make further study of and carry out the spirit of the 6th plenary session of the 19th CPC Central Committee and the Economic Work Meeting of the CPC Central Committee, conscientiously implement the decisions and arrangements made by the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, and seek a thorough understanding of building an IPR power, the general keynote of seeking improvement in stability, and the requirement for building a high-standard market system in order to do a good job in all key tasks and better serve the country's overall socio-economic development. We are to make extra efforts to implement the 15-year plan (2021-2035) on the development of intellectual property rights power and the planning of IPR in the 14th Five-Year Plan, create a business environment guided by protecting innovation, implementing the country's innovation-driven development strategy, facilitating the use of innovation resources by market entities, and supporting the dual circulation at home and abroad. We must strengthen the leadership of our Party over the work of IPR, firmly implement the strategy and policies for governing the Party, and thoroughly implement the spirit of the Party's eight-point frugality code. In a nutshell, we shall work to build a cadre force with firm political beliefs, proficiency and a strong sense of responsibility.

In his work report, Shen Changyu systematically summarized the work achievements of 2021 and listed the key tasks for 2022 in a comprehensive way around the thorough study and implementation of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era in order to accurate grasp the new arrangements and requirements for IPR work by the Central Committee of CPC in the new era. In 2021, those working in the national intellectual property rights system thoroughly studied and carried out the spirit conveyed by the important speech made by General Secretary Xi Jinping at the 25th collective study of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of CPC. Everyone fulfilled the main goals for the year in a satisfactory way and insisted on improving stability, and reform and innovation, the report points out. Top-level design was strengthened in IPR development, while the formation of a high-quality development pattern was accelerated, with noticeable improvement in application thanks to more effective protection. The system is off to a good start in the 14th Five-Year Plan by streamlining administration and delegating power, improving regulation, upgrading services, and through international cooperation in the fight against Covid-19 pandemic.

The meeting pointed out that the CPC Central Committee and the State Council released the 15-year plan (2021-2035) on the development of intellectual property rights power and the planning of IPR during the 14th Five-Year Plan in succession, which serve as the major top-level design for the development of IPR in the next 15 years, fully reflecting the importance of IPR by the CPC Central Committee with comrade Xi Jinping at the core and a major milestone in the history of IPR in our country. The intellectual property rights system should gain a thorough understanding of the strategic disposition for the work of IPR by the CPC Central Committee, and shoulder the historical mission and fulfill our duty conscientiously to accelerate the pace of building IPR strength in light of both domestic and international imperatives and bearing in mind the country's most fundamental interests.

The meeting reiterated that the pending 20th CPC National Congress in this year is a big event in the political life of our Party and nation. The national intellectual property rights system should adhere to the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, implement the spirit of the 19th CPC National Congress and all the plenary sessions of the 19th CPC Central Committee, and implement the arrangements made by the Economic Work Meeting of the CPC Central Committee. The rights system must carry out the country's new development philosophy and help build a new development paradigm, insist on the political direction and service of overall development, prioritize stability while pursuing progress, and stress the implementation and quality by taking the implementation of the 15-year plan (2021-2035) on the development of intellectual property rights power and the planning of IPR during the 14th Five-Year Plan as drivers.

The meeting outlined the key work that must be carried out in 2022 in eight aspects. 1. We shall set up a sound mechanism to implement the 15-year plan (2021-2035) on the development of intellectual property rights power and the planning of IPR during the 14th Five-Year Plan, and carry out the decisions of the CPC Central Committee in an all-round way. 2. We are to improve the legal system and work mechanism in IPR, raising our ability and governance level. 3. We shall work to promote the creation quality of IPR and assist in the self-reliance of high-level science and technology. 4. We work to build a complete protection system for IPR and create a better environment for innovation and business. 5. We must seek to accelerate the transformation and application of IPR and raise its contribution to socio-economic development. 6. We seek to optimize the service system related to IPR. 7. We should push forward international cooperation and competition in IPR in a coordinated way and safeguard our national interests in this regard. 8. We should build a good environment for IPR and lay a solid foundation for its development.

The meeting reiterated that we must insist on the overall leadership of the Party related to IPR if we are to do a good job in the field, and we should implement the CPC Central Committee's decisions and instructions based on the principle of the "Two Upholds" (upholding Comrade Xi Jinping's core position on the Party Central Committee and in the Party as a whole and upholding the Central Committee's authority and its centralized, unified leadership). We must further raise our political stance and advance our work in a political sense; namely we are to stick to the current political direction and stress the unification of political, legal and social effects in the operation of our business, contributing to the creation of a steady and healthy economic environment, peaceful and prosperous social environment, and a clean and upright political environment. We should insist on strengthening Party discipline in an all-round way, implement the Party's eight-point frugality code and its detailed rules, and make incessant efforts to eliminate formalities for formalities' sake, bureaucratism, hedonism, and extravagance.

Gan Shaoning, deputy commissioner of CNIPA, pointed out during a meeting the importance of building on past successes to further advance our cause. It was a pragmatic and efficient meeting with a distinct theme, a compact agenda and striking focus. It has further unified our thoughts, deepened our understanding, enhanced our confidence, lifted morale, and clarified our primary tasks. The national intellectual property system should gain a thorough understanding of the strategic deployment of IPR work by the CPC Central Committee, strengthen the responsibility for building IPR power, and ensure the satisfactory completion of all the tasks contained within the 15-year plan (2021-2035) on the development of intellectual property rights power and the planning of IPR during the 14th Five-Year Plan.

He Zhimin, Liao Tao and Hu Wenhui, leaders from CNIPA, relevant comrades in charge from the discipline inspection and supervision group of the National Supervision Committee of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection stationed at SAMR, and comrades in charge from the patent office of CNIPA attended the meeting. The comrades in charge from the CPC Central Committee and relevant state organs were invited to attend the meeting.

Comrades in charge from the IPR administration departments of all provinces (prefectures and cities), the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, cities specifically designated in the state plan, and sub-provincial level cities, main comrades in charge from the National Defense Intellectual Property Office, main comrades in charge and relevant comrades from the organs, patent office and trademark office of CNIPA and other units directly affiliated to CNIPA as well as social organizations participated in the meeting at the main meeting-place and branch venues respectively.(Translated from CNIPA Website Chinese Version)