Organizers vow to protect intellectual property rights at import expo

The photo of the main venue for the first China International Import Expo in Shanghai [Photo: China Plus/Shen Shi]

Chinese organizers are vowing to take steps to protect the intellectual property rights of items which are on display at the China International Import Expo.

At a press conference ahead of the opening of the import expo in Shanghai, Wang Bingnan, China's vice minister of commerce said that the government is paying more and more attention to the issue of intellectual property protection, and is adopting measures to better protect the rights and interests of foreign companies doing business in China.

"At this first import expo, we are attaching great importance to the protection of intellectual property rights. The Intellectual Property Protection and Commercial Dispute Resolution Service Center has set up in the exhibition center, providing professional intellectual property rights services, consultations about rights, and dispute resolution for exhibitors and buyers, in order to create a fair trading environment, as well as to protect the interests of all parties involved."

Wang highlighted the role that the import expo will play as an enabler for Belt and Road construction. And he called the event an opportunity for the government to promote economic globalization, and greater open global cooperation.

As the host city, Shanghai is aiming to provide first-class service for the expo's participants.

Zhou Bo, the deputy mayor of Shanghai, said that the expo's participants will have the opportunity to experience the latest developments in China's reform and opening up, and have a more intuitive experience of China's economic development.

"Shanghai has jointly organized over 5000 exhibition volunteers, set up more than 300 urban volunteer service stations, and nearly 250 volunteer service teams through cooperation with adjacent municipalities in the Yangtze River Delta Region. At the same time, comprehensive service for exhibition and city information will be provided to domestic and overseas guests through the city's hotline and the official WeChat Mini Program of the China International Import Expo."

Communication services in and around the expo site have also been given a boost, according to Sun Chenghai, the deputy director of China International Import Bureau. He said that network facilities at the Convention and Exhibition Center have been improved so that it can serve the 250,000 visitors using their mobile phones. And a Wi-Fi service will also be available in the venue.

One of the main attractions of the expo will be the 1,500-square-meter China Pavilion, according to Wang Bingnan.

"As the host, we have set up the China Pavilion to showcase the phenomenal achievements of China's reform and opening up, along with the new opportunities brought to the world by China's development and the Belt and Road Initiative, which are centered on the development concepts of innovation, coordination, green development, opening up, and sharing."

And as Shanghai's Deputy Mayor Zhou Bo explains, as a city representative of China's reform and opening up, Shanghai plays a leading role in trade, and is making full use of the city's Free Trade Zone.

"We must make Shanghai a better center of trade, one that buys from the world and sells to the world. It's not only about imports. We should also try to sell to the world goods that are produced in Shanghai and in China, as well as goods made overseas. We are trying to play a better role in global trade through the China International Import Expo. We are aiming to attract more and more competitive and distinctive goods and quality brands from around the globe, in order to better meet the individual and diverse needs of consumer."