The Shanghai Intellectual Property Administration, or SIPA – located in the city of Shanghai in East China – launched its first online training session on July 22 for staff members involved in the international areas of intellectual property or IP.

The session was designed for a group of 180 newer and junior officials working in the city's IP government system.

Yu Chen, deputy director general of SIPA, participated in the event and gave a pep talk.

Yu pointed out that in order for Shanghai to develop itself as an international IP protection highland and attract global IP resources, personnel in the city's IP system must up their game. He said the city must cultivate a team of young IP talent with international vision and communications skills.

In the first training session, Xia Yongfang, former director assistant of Shanghai Foreign Affairs Office, gave a lecture. She outlined the main tasks of Shanghai's foreign affairs service by providing examples of key cases. Xia also put forward suggestions for young workers to improve their skills sets in their jobs.

More training sessions – centering on language learning, international IP rules, foreign affairs etiquette and other content – will be carried out for the studies group in the future.