Shanghai Vice-Mayor Xie Dong (2nd R) meets with Kathi Vidal (2nd L), director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office. [Photo/WeChat account: Shanghai_IPA]

Shanghai Vice-Mayor Xie Dong met in East China's Shanghai on April 18 with Kathi Vidal, director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office – the USPTO – to discuss promoting intellectual property, or IP rights and innovation.

Xie pointed out Shanghai's strategic importance as a hub for US businesses and highlighted its role as a key portal for Sino-US economic and cultural exchanges.

What's more, she emphasized the city's commitment to becoming an international IP center, fostering an environment conducive to innovation and ensuring fair IP protection for all enterprises.

Xie reaffirmed Shanghai's commitment to international IPR cooperation in line with the central government's policy and under the guidance of the China National Intellectual Property Administration. She expressed her eagerness to boost exchanges with USPTO to support innovators and maintain a world-class business environment based on the rule of law.

USPTO's Vidal said she valued IP cooperation with China and praised Shanghai's initiatives to promote technological innovation and protect IP rights. She appreciated the support for US companies in Shanghai and called for increased bilateral communications.

Vidal also provided an update on USPTO's activities in this area.

The meeting was attended by Scott Walker, US Consul General in Shanghai and Rui Wenbiao, director general of the Shanghai Intellectual Property Administration.