The State Council recently released the National Plan for Protection and Application of Intellectual Property Rights During the 14th Five-Year Plan Period (henceforth the IP National Plan) that serves as an all-encompassing work plan for the intellectual property (IP) protection and application in the next five years. At the regular policy briefing held by the State Council Information Office (SCIO) on November 1, Shen Changyu, director of the State Intellectual Property Office (SIPO), introduced the IP National Plan and answered reporters' questions along with Deputy Director Gan Shaoning and other relevant officials of the SIPO. The briefing was presided over by Shou Xiaoli, deputy director general and spokesperson of the Press Bureau of the SCIO.

Shen said that when presiding over the 25th group study session of the Political Bureau of the 19th CPC Central Committee on November 30, General Secretary Xi Jinping stressed the need to strengthen top-level design over IP protection work, develop a national plan for IP protection and application during the 14th Five-Year Plan period, and set forth clear goals, tasks, measures, and blueprints. The Executive meetings of the State Council have also discussed and made plans for the IP-related work for many times.

The IP National Plan is a major move to implement General Secretary Xi's important instructions and the decisions and plans made by the CPC Central Committee and the State Council. It specifies "four new goals" for the IP-related work, which include scaling new heights in IP protection, achieving new results in IP application, reaching a new stage in IP services, and making new breakthroughs in international IP cooperation. It also sets forth eight anticipatory targets as well as key tasks in five areas. In addition, 15 special programs will be launched to ensure the attainment of the phased goals and tasks for building China into a country strong on IP.

In response to a question from a reporter of CCTV, China Media Group, about the relationship between the IP National Plan and the Outline for Building a Country Strong on IPR (2021-2035), Shen said that the outline is an overall design drawing for China's IP development in the next 15 years, while the national plan is an specific construction drawing in the next five years. To meet both immediate and long-term needs, the SIPO will pay equal attention to the plan and the outline. It will strive to successfully realize the goals and complete the tasks of the first stage set in the Outline through implementing the National Plan, so as to lay a solid foundation and make a good start for the drive of turning China into a strong IP country.

The IP National Plan during the 14th Five-Year Plan period has been issued as a special national plan again, following it was made so for the first time during the 13th Five-Year Plan period. When answering a reporter's question, Shen pointed out that the IP National Plan has been identified as an important part of the country's overall 14th Five-Year Plan system. This shows that the CPC Central Committee and the State Council always give high priority and great support to the IP work, and reveals the important role of IP in China's economic and social development. This effort will also ensure the continuity and consistency of the plan's implementation. Going forward, the SIPO will cooperate with relevant parties to push the plan's implementation in order to achieve the expected results.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the restoration of the lawful seat of the People's Republic of China in the United Nations. In response to a reporter's question, Shen noted that over the past 40 years, as a party to almost all major international IP conventions and treaties, China has actively participated in the global IP governance and the formulation of international IP rules under the framework of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). The country has always been a staunch supporter and major contributor to the international IP rules. Following the guidance of the central government, the SIPO will continue to be committed to multilateralism, enhance cooperation with the WIPO, boost the development of global IP undertakings and advance the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

In response to a reporter's question on international IP cooperation, Gan Shaoning said that the national plan has contained a number of measures for international cooperation in this area. The SIPO will continue to actively participate in the global IP governance, upgrade international IP cooperation to a new level and pursue IP opening-up in a larger scope, to wider areas and at deeper levels, in a bid to facilitate the fostering of a new development dynamic.

Other major SIPO officials answered reporters' questions on the IP statistical index system, the developing of IP protection system, the transfer and commercialization of IP, etc.