IP co-op agreements signed by Guangdong, Hong Kong

On August, 2, the 10th Session of Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Conference for Cooperation was held in Hong Kong.

After the session, representatives from both sides signed six agreements, involving service industry, energy conservation and environmental protection, social welfare, information technology, intellectual property and food security.

The six agreements include: Agreement on Deepening the Implementation of CEPA to Jointly Promote Cooperation in Service Industry Between Guangdong and Hong Kong, Cooperation Agreement on Energy Conservation, Cleaner Production and the Comprehensive Utilization of Resources Between Guangdong and Hong Kong Enterprises, Arrangements on Social Welfare Cooperation Between Guangdong and Hong Kong, Arrangements on Strengthening the Cooperation on Information Industry Between Guangdong and Hong Kong, 2007-2008 Cooperation Agreement on Intellectual Property Between Guangdong and Hong Kong, and Agreement on Adding Inspection and Quarantine Marks on Conveyances of Pool Fish Transportation to Hong Kong.

Both sides agreed to accelerate the process of exchanges and cooperation in service industry, benefiting from Hong Kong's advantages in service industry and the opportunity of Guangdong's industrial structure adjustment and product upgrade. At the agreement, both sides vowed to launch more cooperation activities.

Both sides pledged to jointly promote cooperation in information industry, including strengthening cooperation in computer software industry, promoting the utilization of wireless radio frequency technology in transportation, logistics, going through the Customs and inspection and quarantine, strengthening digital certificate cooperation to encourage e-business development in Guangdong and Hong Kong, and intensifying exchanges and sharing of information technology standard to promote cooperation in digital entertainment industry between Guangdong and Hong Kong.

Donald Tsang, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, and Huang Huahua, Governor of Guangdong Province, jointly presided the conference. Zhou Bo, the Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, and Guo Li, Vice Director of Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in Hong Kong, attended the conference.

During the 10 years after the Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Conference for Cooperation program was initiated, the bilateral trade volume increased from $33.9 billion in 1997 to $112.6 billion in 2006. In 1997, about 9 million people went between the mainland and Hong Kong through landway ports. Currently, the number has exceeded 18 million.