China launched Monday a week-long nationwide promotion for boosting intellectual property awareness among people.

The State Intellectual Property Office (SIPO), together with another eight governmental departments, organized an opening ceremony of the intellectual property promotion week on Wangfujing, one of the busiest streets in Beijing.

Zhang Qin, SIPO vice commissioner, said that intellectual property has become the common concern of the international community in modern times.

The intellectual property system helps stimulate scientific and technological advancement, cultural prosperity and economic development, Zhang said.

Protecting intellectual property was not only a commitment of China to the World Trade Organization, but also necessary for the country's social and economic progress.

Beijing Vice Mayor Fan Boyuan said that his municipal government would help cultivate a good environment for protecting intellectual property in the Chinese capital.

The promotion week includes activities such as a high-level symposium on intellectual property and economic development and a dialogue between university students on intellectual property.

After the opening ceremony, some government offices and intellectual property agents held on-the-spot consultations with passers-by.

Source: Xinhua