A few days ago, an international forum on "Making use of the Intellectual Property System and Promoting the Development of the Small and Medium Enterprises" was jointly held by the Chinese State Intellectual Property Office and the Italian Ministry of Economic Development in Guangzhou.  Li Yuguang, deputy director of the State Intellectual Property Office, Alfanso Gianni, state-secretary of the Italian Ministry of Economic Development and Wang Xiaoling, vice-mayor of Guangzhou City were present at the Opening Ceremony of the Forum and delivered speeches.  More than 200 people took part in the Forum.  They included: the experts who came from the Chinese and the Italian intellectual property management departments and the representatives of the small and medium enterprises as well as the persons concerned from the intellectual property departments, colleges and universities and the law circles of China's 26 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities under the Central Government.  Also an in-depth exchange and deliberation had been conducted.  The main theme of the Forum were: How can the protection over the patent and trademark be extended from China to the world? How can one obtain and protect the patents of invention as well as the practical and new-type of exterior design? How can one obtain and protect trademark in China? And other relevant issues which are of wide concern of the Chinese and Italian small and medium enterprises such as the protection and the law enforcement pertaining to intellectual property in China.

Li Yuguang pointed out in his speech: "Both the Chinese and the Italian governments attach importance to the role of intellectual property in promoting the development of the small and medium enterprises.  The holding of this forum will further enhance the consciousness for the protection of intellectual property of the small and medium enterprises of the two countries, thus enabling them to understand such issues as how to obtain and protect intellectual property in China and abroad and how to make use of intellectual property and sharpen China's competitive edge in the market. Li Yuguang stated: "China welcomes the Italian enterprises, especially the small and medium enterprises to come to China and make investment here and seek cooperation.  The Chinese Government, including the State Intellectual Property Office and the other intellectual property departments are willing to provide more assistance for the Italian enterprises to make investment and conduct economic and trade activities in terms of protection of intellectual property in China.  The Chinese State Intellectual Property Office is willing to enhance the cooperation and exchange between the Chinese and the Italian governments in the intellectual property area through a variety of forms, so as to create an even better intellectual property environment for the promotion of contact and exchange of the two countries in the fields of science and technology, economic and trade and culture.

This forum was wound up in complete success with the concerted efforts of the Chinese State Intellectual Property Office, the Patent and Trademark Bureau of the Ministry of Economic Development of Italy and all those concerned.  This fully demonstrates the friendly and cooperative relationship between the Chinese and the Italian governments in the intellectual property area.  This also demonstrates China and Italy's great concern for the intellectual property work of the small and medium enterprises.  This forum has achieved the objectives of enhancing understanding, expanding consensus and joint development and will further facilitate the economic and trade cooperative relations between the two countries.

There is a long-term and friendly cooperative relationship between China and Italy.  In 2004, the two countries established all-round strategic partnership.  Moreover, the Sino-Italian Government Committee was created for the purpose of all-round planning, coordination and promotion of the bilateral exchange and cooperation in all the fields.  In June 2006, the Sino-Italian Intellectual Property Cooperative Agreement was signed by the two governments.  Under the framework of this cooperative agreement, the cooperation between the two countries in the intellectual property area has continuously been developed and deepened.  In recent years, the exchange and cooperation between the two sides in the fields of science and technology, culture, education, economic and trade have become ever closer.

2006-10-10

2006-10-10