Uzbekistan and China Forge New Intellectual Property Cooperation Frameworks at WIPO Assembly

During the 68th series of Assemblies of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) held in Geneva, Deputy Minister of Justice of Uzbekistan and Head of the National Intellectual Property Authority Muzraf Ikramov met with Shen Changyu, Commissioner of the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA). The high-level discussions centered on expanding bilateral cooperation in the legal protection of intellectual property, including patents, trademarks, and industrial designs.

The parties placed particular emphasis on personnel training, experience exchange, and enhancing the patent examination system. The Chinese delegation reaffirmed its commitment to providing practical support for training and upgrading the qualifications of Uzbekistan’s state patent examiners within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative.

Following these negotiations, the Ministry of Justice of Uzbekistan and CNIPA signed two key documents: a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the field of intellectual property and a Memorandum on implementing the Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) fast-track patent examination program.

These agreements outline collaborative efforts to develop cooperation in patents, trademarks, and industrial designs. They also prioritize raising the qualifications of state patent examiners and specialized professionals, implementing the PPH mechanism to expedite patent processing, and expanding the network of Technology and Innovation Support Centers (TISC).

Additionally, the accords include provisions to assist in the commercialization of intellectual property and to improve the national innovation ecosystem in Uzbekistan.

The Ministry of Justice highlighted that the implementation of these agreements will bolster the strategic partnership between Uzbekistan and China. It is expected to foster innovative activities, accelerate technology transfer, and expand long-term cooperation in the intellectual property domain.

This collaboration marks a significant step in strengthening bilateral relations and enhancing the capacity of Uzbekistan’s intellectual property infrastructure through knowledge exchange and procedural improvements.