Recently, at the invitation of the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) and the Japan Patent Office (JPO), Deputy Commissioner Gan Shaoning of China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) led a delegation and paid working visits to Korea and Japan.

Deputy Commissioner Gan Shaoning of CNIPA (right) and Deputy Commissioner Cheon Sechang of KIPO

During his visit to Korea, Gan Shaoning held a meeting with Deputy Commissioner Cheon Sechang of KIPO. Gan Shaoning remarked in the meeting that KIPO was an important cooperative partner of CNIPA. In recent years, with the joint effort of both sides, the cooperation between CNIPA and KIPO had been constantly deepened, playing positive supporting role for exchanges in various fields between China and Korea. Cheon Sechang expressed his gratitude for the positive attitude of CNIPA in China-Korea IP cooperation, and hoped to further deepen cooperation with CNIPA on the original basis. In the meeting, the two sides introduced the latest development of the two offices, summarized the situation of implementation of bilateral cooperative projects including China and Korea trademark experts meeting and IPR protection experts meeting, and reached a consensus on upgrading the memorandum of understanding between CNIPA and KIPO. 

During his stay in Korea, Gan Shaoning also led the delegation to visit the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat (TSC), and had in-depth exchanges with Deputy Secretary-General Han Mei of TSC on the latest situation of China-Japan-Korea cooperation and TSC’s involvement in the China-Japan-Korea IP cooperation.

Deputy Commissioner Gan Shaoning of CNIPA (left) and Deputy Commissioner Shimano Kunihiko of JPO

During his visit to Japan, Gan Shaoning held a meeting with Deputy Commissioner Shimano Kunihiko of JPO. Gan Shaoning remarked that JPO was one of the earliest IP institutions to establish cooperative relations with CNIPA. For forty years, CNIPA and JPO had been constantly deepening their exchanges and cooperation in the fields of personnel cultivation, legal system, examination operation, patent classification, information construction and reexamination. Shimano Kunihiko hoped that CNIPA and JPO may take the 40th anniversary of cooperation as a new starting point and continue to make new achievements. In the meeting, the two sides introduced the latest development of the two offices, had frank and in-depth exchanges on the project of exchange of liaison officers and China and Japan trademark experts meeting, and reached a consensus on upgrading the memorandum of understanding between CNIPA and JPO.

During his stay in Japan, Gan Shaoning also led the delegation to visit the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan (MAFF), and had a meeting with Councillor Yasuhiko Kurashige of MAFF. In the meeting, the two sides introduced the latest development of CNIPA and MAFF in the field of geographical indication, expressed their willingness to strengthen communication and cooperation, and designated working contacts. The two sides agreed to further discuss on the content and forms of future cooperation at the working level. (Translated from CNIPA Website Chinese Version)