The State Intellectual Property Office (SIPO) released two draft documents at a Feb 16 meeting to collect opinions and consider amendments.

One of the drafts is the summary of achievements in intellectual property in 2010 and the other outlines working arrangements this year.

More than 70 senior officials from 28 central government departments took part in the gathering, with most of them voicing their opinions.

SIPO plans to host another conference before submitting the documents to the State Council, according to its Vice-Commissioner Gan Shaoning.

Information ministry, Intel join together for IPR training

The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology's Intellectual Property Center and Intel China Ltd signed a memorandum of understanding on strategic cooperation last week.

The partnership is a new move after their joint launch of a two-year training program in late 2008 to promote awareness of intellectual property rights (IPR), especially among small businesses.

The agreement will promote training of IPR staff and improve intellectual property awareness and management in industry, Han Jun, deputy director of the ministry's Department of Science and Technology, said at the signing ceremony.

Ge Jun, Intel China's executive director, said he hopes the combined effort will contribute to building a better environment for business innovation through joint research into pressing IPR issues.

60b yuan bank agreement to promote publishing sector

The General Administration of Press and Publication will receive at least 60 billion yuan ($9.1 billion) from the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China over the next five years to explore financial services for press and publishing businesses.

The agreement comes in response to the central government's call for further growth in the publishing industry.

It is the administration's fourth agreement with large State-owned banks following deals with Bank of China, Agricultural Bank of China and China Development Bank.FARFIR