Organizers of the ongoing 135th session of the China Import and Export Fair, also known as the Canton Fair, estimate that potential business deals, amounting to around 282 million dollars, have been agreed so far.
As of Thursday, the exhibition in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou had attracted 234,000 overseas exhibitors from 215 countries and regions, a 25-percent-increase from the previous edition.
The 135th session of the Canton Fair runs from April 15 to May 5 in three five-day phases.
Themed as "A Better Life," the third phase of the 135th session of China Import and Export Fair, or Canton Fair, started on Wednesday, focusing on trendy household goods and daily essentials.
A total of 21 exhibition zones in five major categories have been in place, which display commodities including toys, baby and maternity products, household textiles, stationery and health and leisure items.
Launched in 1957 and held twice a year, the Canton Fair is considered a major bellwether for China's foreign trade.
Canton Fair organizers estimate 282 million dollars in potential deals
China's first intellectual property protection and early warning platform for the auto export industry was launched on Thursday at the 2024 China Automotive Intellectual Property Annual Conference in central China's Wuhan City.
This platform aims to assist Chinese auto companies in expanding their business overseas while avoiding intellectual property disputes. It offers over ten features, including research on the legal environment for overseas intellectual property, guidance on the application process, and information on related costs.
By utilizing this platform, auto firms in China can improve their awareness of international intellectual property protection and enhance their ability to manage relevant disputes. "We can see that Chinese auto companies are accelerating their global expansion, but their overseas patent coverage is relatively weak. The proportion of their patients effectively protected overseas is less than 10 percent on average, indicating a significant gap compared to mainstream multinational car companies. In recent years, we have focused on key technologies such as Intelligent Connected Vehicle and new energy, and have actively applied for patents in target markets like Europe and Southeast Asia," said Yang Yanding, head of the General Research and Development Institute of Chinese automaker Dongfeng Motor.
The platform also provides consulting services on overseas patent application, assistance with intellectual property dispute settlement, and early warning information on potential infringements, which are all tailored to the needs of Chinese independent auto brands.
"The rapid development of new energy vehicles has accelerated the integration of the automotive industry with communication, artificial intelligence, and big data, giving rise to new intellectual property challenges, such as standard essential patents. Therefore, Chinese auto companies must pay close attention to risk prevention, early warning, and response to protect their interests as they expand internationally," said Wang Junlei, chief expert at the China Automotive Technology and Research Center.
The 2024 China Automotive Intellectual Property Annual Conference opened on Thursday and will conclude on Saturday.
China launches first intellectual property protection platform for auto export
