China backs copyright, trademarks

BEIJING: China was willing to enhance intellectual property rights co-operation with other countries, but opposed accusations and abuse of IPR to exercise trade protectionism, a senior official said yesterday.

Gan Shaoning, the deputy director of the State Intellectual Property Office, said China had established an internationally-recognised legal system for IPR protection, incorporating administrative and judicial protection.

US president-elect Donald Trump has reportedly applied for trademarks in China. Gan said that showed that China’s IPR system complied with global standards.

“Exercising strict IPR protection is not only a demand for the country to attract foreign investment, open up to the outside world, and pursue innovation-driven development, but also an essential requirement for upgrading economic and social development,” Gan said.

“We are willing to enhance IPR co-operation and share our experiences of development with our counterparts across the world,” the official said.