The vice-ministerial meeting of China-US IPR Working Group was held in Washington, DC on September 21, 2012, Mr. Chong Quan, Deputy China International Trade Representative of Chinese Ministry of Commerce, Mr. Marantis, Deputy US Trade Representative, and Mr. Kappos, Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office, jointly chaired the meeting. Delegate from China’s Supreme People's Court, Supreme People's Procuratorate, the Ministry of Commerce, Legislative Affairs Office of the State Council, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Culture, the General Administration of Customs, State Administration for Industry and Commerce, National Copyright Administration, Intellectual Property Office and China Copyright Protection Center, and U.S. Department of Commerce, Department of the Treasury, Copyright Office, State Department, Department of Homeland Security and Trade Representative Office attended the meeting. The two parties made extensive and in-depth exchanges and discussions on issues of IPR protection trademarks, patents, copyrights, trade secrets, and China-US IPR cooperation.

Mr. Chong said intellectual property is an important topic in China-US economic and trade relations. China and the United States are important trade partners, and strengthening IPR protection and exchanges is in line with the common interests of the two parties. China and the United States have maintained sound and smooth exchanges in intellectual property, which is conductive for the two parties to continue to expand and deepen economic and trade cooperation, especially in the area of intellectual property. China would like to listen to all constructive comments and suggestions on IPR protection, and would like to work with the United States to improve the intellectual property system through communication and cooperation, hoping the two parties to join efforts to enhance understanding on concerns of each other on IPR protection, finding the balance point, so as to promote China-US IPR protection cooperation, and foster a sound environment for the development of China-US economic and trade relations.

Mr. Chong said that China and the United States have common interests in IPR protection, and there would be greater demand for IPR exchanges and cooperation between the two parties along with bilateral trade development. China has always been positive and open in IPR protection, and would like to enhance exchanges and communications with US. China-US intellectual property cooperation framework has provided a broader platform for bilateral exchanges and cooperation, and it is believed that a new chapter for the development of China-US IPR cooperation will be created under joint efforts of the two parties in implementation of the agreement, which will be an effective way for the two parties to push forward IPR protection.

Mr. Marantis said that China and US have strengthened communication and cooperation in intellectual property in recent years, and remarkable results achieved. The cooperation mode has become an example, and it is hoped that the two parties to cooperate closely to make more achievements before the next session of China-US Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade.

Mr. Kappos said that China-US intellectual property cooperation framework would be conducive to enhance bilateral cooperation and common development, in order to achieve a win-win result. The two parties have communicated on details of the implementation of the framework agreement, and US is optimistic on it, and would like to work with China to make practical efforts.

Mr. Chong also met respectively with Mr. Overby, Vice President of the American Chamber of Commerce and Mr. Reif, General Counsel of US Trade Representative Office, in Washington on September 19 and 20, and exchanged views on China-US economic and trade cooperation.