Recently, Shen Changyu, Commissioner of the State Intellectual Property Office of China (SIPO), met with Cham Prasidh, Cambodian Minister of Commerce  and Minister of Industry and Handicrafts of the Kingdom of Cambodia (MIH) and his delegation in Beijing. The two sides jointly signed the Memorandum of Understanding between the State Intellectual Property Office of China and the Ministry of Industry and Handicrafts of the Kingdom of Cambodia on Intellectual Property Cooperation, which clearly states that valid invention patents authorized by SIPO should be allowed to directly register in Cambodia and receive protection. Shen Changyu said that this Memorandum of Understanding is a milestone in China-Cambodian IP cooperation.

Shen Changyu briefed Cham Prasidh on the latest development of China's IP work and new initiatives in building China an IP power. He pointed out that the friendship between China and Cambodia had a long history. In recent years, the two countries have conducted frequent exchanges, and the two heads of states have successfully visited each other and reached broad consensus, which brought important guidance for cooperation between the two countries in various fields. With strong support from the leaders of the two states, China-Cambodia IP cooperation has been continuously deepened with a series of fruitful cooperation projects and results.

Shen Changyu said that the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding this time is of great significance to both sides. It will not only provide great convenience for Chinese patent applicants, but also will exert positive impacts on China-Cambodian IP cooperation as well as economic and social development. Moreover, it will produce demonstration effect among countries and regions along the Belt and Road, promote mutual investments between companies of the two countries and increase exchanges and communication. China is willing to promote the cooperation projects to be launched as soon as possible in the framework of the Memorandum of Understanding, and increase cooperation in the field of human resources development.

Cham Prasidh expressed his gratitude to SIPO for its long-standing support and assistance to Cambodia in the field of IP. He pointed out that China-Cambodian IP cooperation is an important part of the cooperation between the two countries. The fruitful IP cooperation between the two countries is resulted from the profound friendship between the two countries. He said that with the further deepening of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries, more and more Chinese enterprises with independent intellectual property rights (IPR) to invest in Cambodia, the demand for IPR protection is increasingly urgent. Cambodia attaches great importance to IP cooperation with China, and hopes that the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding would promote cooperation and exchanges in the field of IP between the two countries and provide better services for innovators.

SIPO Deputy Commissioner He Zhimin also attended the meeting.

The Memorandum of Understanding signed this time mainly included the following contents: Any valid invention patent that authorized by SIPO is allowed to directly register in Cambodia and receive protection; relevant departments of SIPO will provide the Ministry of Industry and Handicrafts of the Kingdom of Cambodia (MIH) with services of searching and evaluation for invention patent application; the two sides will promote cooperation in the fields of human resources development and experience exchanges on IP.

During his stay in Beijing, Cham Prasidh and his delegation also visited the exhibition hall of SIPO, IT room, the accepting hall for patent application and the patent examination departments, and exchanged views with the Chinese staff. They also visited the IMWAY in zhongguancun science park and expressed great appreciation for the achievements of China's innovation. (Translated from SIPO Website Chinese Version)