Xi stresses strengthening IPR protection

Related work significant to high-quality growth, he says at Party study session

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, stressed on Monday the importance of intellectual property rights protection to promote innovation throughout society.

At a group study session of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, Xi said that IPR protection work has great significance for modernization of the governance system and governance capacity.

IPR protection work is of great importance to the country's high-quality growth, the people's happiness, the country's opening-up and national security, he said.

Xi urged the strengthening of IPR protection work with a strategic perspective to promote the building of a modern economic system and the establishment of the new development paradigm.

Yi Jiming, a professor at Peking University Law School, delivered a speech at the meeting and put forward some suggestions.

Innovation is the major driving force to promote development, Xi said, adding that innovation could be promoted through enhancing the protection of IPR.

A blueprint for the country's development in the next five years and beyond, which was adopted at the Fifth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee of the CPC in October, has made specific requirements for IPR protection.

China is becoming a major creator of IPR, Xi said, adding that the nation's IPR creation is developing in the direction of high-quality growth.

He urged officials to have a clear understanding of the country's IPR protection work and raise awareness of the importance of IPR protection.

Since the Party's 18th National Congress in November 2012, the CPC Central Committee has attached greater importance to IPR protection work, taken a number of measures to deepen reform, and punished IPR infringement, Xi said.

Upholding a development path with Chinese characteristics, China has made historic achievements in IPR protection, and the whole of society has a greater awareness of IPR protection, he said.

Xi stressed the importance of strengthening top-level design of IPR protection work, saying that the authorities should plan for the nation's IPR protection during the period of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25).

The creation of independent IPR in key areas should be strengthened, he noted.

Related laws and regulations on IPR protection should be improved, and grave cases of IPR infringement must be punished in accordance with the law, he said. Legislation in the fields of geographical indications and business secrets should be strengthened, he added.

Xi called for the use of multiple methods, including laws, administrative power, and economic and social management, to improve the IPR protection system.

Work to ensure IPR protection and fair competition and to safeguard against monopolies should be coordinated in order to promote the orderly flow of innovative factors, he said.

He urged deepened reform of the IPR protection system, the improvement of IPR protection in new industrial areas including big data, artificial intelligence and genetic technology, and the drawing up of rules to protect traditional culture and knowledge.

International cooperation and competition on IPR should be coordinated, and IPR cooperation with Belt and Road countries should be deepened, he said.

Xi called for strengthening the development and protection of core technologies that are key to national security. The export of IPR related to national security must be managed in line with the law, he said.

Xi instructed Party committees and governments at all levels to fulfill their responsibilities to strengthen IPR protection work and fight against IPR infringement activities.