Country to boost IPR protection under BRI

China will provide a range of intellectual property rights services for countries and regions involved in the Belt and Road Initiative, according to the latest plan on its development.

The services will also cover patent searches, reviews and training to consolidate and improve international cooperation on IPR, according to the document issued by the State Council, the country's Cabinet, on Thursday. The document specifies a number of goals and requirements on IPR protection and application during the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) period.

During the period, an IPR cooperation platform for countries and regions involved in the BRI will be established and the scale and cooperation on projects will be expanded, according to the document.

It requires the China National Intellectual Property Administration to play a leading role in offering IPR training for BRI countries and regions, saying that cooperation in information and data resources should be promoted.

It also urges Chinese authorities to enhance multilateral cooperation with countries including the United States, Japan and South Korea, as well as conducting exchanges related to policies and regulations.

Judicial agencies and public security departments nationwide should improve cross-border coordination, while international cooperation to fight and prevent IPR crimes should also be strengthened, it said.

Increasing international cooperation on IPR is one of the four major goals over the next five years, according to the plan. The other three are stronger protection, more effective application and high-quality services.

The plan also calls for an improved legal system for IPR protection, with legislators required to draft laws on geographical indications and trade secrets as well as providing protection in new areas, including big data, artificial intelligence and gene technology.

In September, the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council jointly released a document setting a road map and a number of tasks to protect IPR and develop related industries in the next 15 years.

The document gives a clear direction for IPR development, noting that protection will be greatly enhanced by 2025, with a high level of public satisfaction and greater market value of the industry.

The road map said China's IPR competitiveness by 2035 will rank among the best in the world, with a complete system, prosperous growth in IPR-driven innovation and a better social environment for its development.