On January 15-16, 2025, the Japan Patent Office (JPO) and the Japan Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) hosted the 11th Japan-China Joint Intellectual Property Working Group Meeting in Tokyo. The discussions focused on enhancing the protection of intellectual property (IP) rights in both countries.

Founded in 2009 through a Memorandum of Understanding between Japan’s METI and the Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China (MOFCOM), the IP Working Group promotes cooperation and information exchange on IP-related issues.

This year’s meeting was co-chaired by Mr. TAKIZAWA Go (JPO) and Mr. LI Ming (MOFCOM), with representatives from various Japanese and Chinese government bodies in attendance. From the Chinese government, participants included the Ministry of Commerce, National Copyright Administration, Supreme People's Procuratorate, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, and General Administration of Customs. From the Japanese government, participants included the National Police Agency, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Finance, and the Customs and Tariff Bureau.

In addition to the main meeting, an industry roundtable was held, offering Chinese and Japanese businesses an opportunity to discuss IP challenges and priorities with government officials. This ongoing initiative highlights the strong commitment of both China and Japan to strengthen IP protection and foster deeper collaboration in the field of intellectual property.

If you have any inquiries regarding intellectual property matters in China, please don’t hesitate to contact us at [email protected].

Rachel LI, GUOFUWENJIA LAW/S&O IP China, Senior Associate