Relations between ARIPO and CNIPA strengthen

From 8 – 10 April 2024, Director General Bemanya Twebaze of the African Regional Intellectual Property Organisation (ARIPO) visited China to meet with Commissioner Shen Changyu of the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA).

This visit aimed to strengthen the longstanding partnership between ARIPO and CNIPA, initiated in 2007, when a Memorandum of Understanding was entered into between the parties. Despite challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic, both organisations are committed to enhancing their cooperation, building on a relationship that supports a robust trade link, with China remaining Africa’s largest trading partner. The discussions focused on reinforcing ties and exploring new areas of collaboration in intellectual property. To this end, the parties had expressed their commitment to launch the Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) pilot program).

Sources:
Blog – The African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO)

China National Intellectual Property Administration Official Information Shen Changyu Holds Talks With ARIPO DG (cnipa.gov.cn)