Tian Lipu, commissioner of the State Intellectual Property Office, was elected president of China Intellectual Property Society at its annual congress last week.

"Intellectual property is an increasingly important strategic resource to back a country's development and is crucial to industrial growth," Tian said.

Advisory groups should play a more active role in providing consultancy to policymakers to benefit companies and promote international exchanges, he noted.

Since its founding in 1984, CIPS has attracted renowned IP

scholars and experts, and made noted achievements in academic research, according to its leaders.

CIPS plans to increase cooperation with foreign non-governmental organizations and provide better services to help domestic companies do business abroad in the next few years, they said.

(Source: China Daily)