SIPO Deputy Commissioner Tian Lipu told the press that the summit, which is open to all member states of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the industrial sector and non-governmental organizations, will be the first ever in the history of the WIPO. He said the number of participants from home and abroad is expected to exceed 3,000.

Issues to be discussed at the summit include intellectual property challenges and opportunities in the new millennium, the contribution of creativity to human progress, leveraging the benefits of inventions in the real and virtual worlds, and promoting respect for intellectual property rights, Tian said.

To encourage participation from the private sector, a parallel forum will be held for enterprises and non-governmental organizations from April 24 to April 25.

The summit will consist of plenary addresses by leaders, senior government officials and chief executive officers of leading world corporations; panel discussions involving senior government officials, high-level leaders from industry, the private sector and judges; and a final plenary session and presentation of the summit declaration.

Tian said the Chinese government attaches great importance to the summit and has set up an organizing committee to deal with relevant issues including protocol, visas, security and publicity.

The SIPO also announced two websites for summit information queries. They are www.wipo.int/summit-china/en and www.sipo.gov.cn/wipo_new/default.htm.

(Xinhua News Agency January 10, 2003)