China and Italy sign IP Cooperation Agreement

June 9, 2004

China and Italy sign IP Cooperation Agreement
Mr. Wang Jinchuang, Director of China’s State Intellectual Property Office and Mr. Antonio Marzano, Minister of Production Activities of Italy signed an inter-governmental agreement for cooperation on intellectual property on June 6.

The agreement is aimed at promoting bilateral cooperation in economy, trade, science, culture and other aspects. According to it, the parties will exchange legal and industrial IP information and experience; continue industrial IP harmonization and standardization; share experience in copyright collective management; and train IP personnel.

In addition, the two countries will share opinions on the problems of international IP system development, experience in international cooperation and the implementation of multilateral IP conventions entered into by each country; as well as information on handling IP infringements.

Trade between China and Italy has abundant opportunities for development，and major importance should be attached to the expansion of bilateral IP cooperation, Mr. Wang Jinchuang said. The latter hopes this agreement will lay the foundations for further development of mutual exchange and cooperation.

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations on November 6, 1970, political, economic and trade cooperation between China and Italy has been flourishing very smoothly. The two countries have signed agreements on civil aviation, transportation by sea, avoidance of double taxation, encouragement and mutual protection of investments, economic cooperation etc.

In 2003, the two countries witnessed a record high bilateral trade volume of 11.73 billion US dollars. From January to April 2004, the bilateral trade volume reached 4.54 billion US dollars, 22 percent more than that for the same period last year. Italy has become China's fifth largest trading partner among European nations.