Wang Jingchuan, director of China's State Intellectual Property Office (SIPO), and Antonio Marzano, minister of Production Activities of Italy, signed in Beijing Tuesday an agreement of cooperation on intellectual property.

The inter-governmental agreement is expected to promote exchange and cooperation between the two countries in trade and economic, scientific and technological and cultural fields.

The two sides agreed to exchange information on intellectual property laws and industrial patents.

The two sides also agreed to further discuss procedure standardization of patent application examination.

In addition, the two sides will exchange information on the implementation of multilateral conventions related to intellectual property as well as efforts to deal with intellectual property infringement in their respective countries.

As they expand their trade and economic relations, China and Italy need to cooperate with each other in intellectual property protection, said Wang.

Wang said he hopes the two sides will carry out deeper and more extensive exchange and cooperation in intellectual property.

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries on Nov. 6, 1970, China and Italy have signed many cooperative agreements in order to solidify trade and economic relations.

In 2003, the two countries witnessed a record high bilateral trade volume of US$11.73 billion.

From January to April 2004, the bilateral trade volume reached US$4.54 billion, 22 percent more than that in the same period last year. Italy has become China's fifth largest trading partner among European nations.

(Xinhua News Agency June 9, 2004)