The delegation visited the cities of Shanghai, Chengdu and Beijing. In Shanghai the delegation met with British businesses including GKN, Cambridge Assessment, Arup and Tesco. In Chengdu, the delegation met with several provincial bodies with responsibilities for the environment and sustainable development and the Sichuan Provincial People’s Congress. In Beijing, the delegation met with the China-UK Friendship Group, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

This was an extremely successful visit and a full report of the delegation’s activities will follow shortly.

IPR legislation and enforcement in China is an important and topical issue, given that is has been identified as one of the major factors affecting British businesses that currently, or seek to, operate within China.  This event provides an excellent opportunity for parliamentarians, businesses and other interested parties to discuss, exchange ideas and experiences and deepen their knowledge and understanding of patents, trademark and copyright law in China and how this legislative environment impacts upon both British and Chinese businesses.

Guest speakers include:

• Duncan Levesley, Senior Manager Research and Advisory, China Britain Business Council (CBBC)
• Andrew Bartlett, Director Patents Directorate, Intellectual Property Office (IPO)
• Kevin Fitzgerald, Chief Executive, UK Copyright Licensing Agency (CLA)

If you would like to attend this event please contact Shirin Taghizadeh at 0207 219 6762 or coordinator@appcg.org.uk

You can read the China Daily report by following this link: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/life/2011-09/16/content_13715754.htm

APPCG Chairman Mark Hendrick MP opening the UK Confucius Institute Conference

On Wednesday 14^th September the All Party Parliamentary China Group (APPCG) hosted the UK Confucius Institutes’ National Conference in Parliament. The Conference was hosted in conjunction with the Confucius Institute for Traditional Chinese Medicine (CITCM) at London South Bank University (LSBU).

The purpose of the conference was to facilitate discussion and an exchange of ideas and best practice about the teaching of Chinese language and culture in the UK, and the long-term sustainability of this work. The conference also provided an opportunity to inform and update Parliamentarians’ understanding of Chinese culture and the work that Confucius Institutes and Confucius Classrooms do in the UK.

H.E. Ambassador Liu Xiaoming

 

A report of the Confucius Institutes’ National Conference can be read here.

Donald Tsang GBM, Chief Executive of Hong Kong

The purpose of the visit was to maintain and strengthen APPCG - Hong Kong relations and to update parliamentarians on constitutional and social development in Hong Kong and the impact of the 12th Five Year Plan. The meeting demonstrated the continuing strong interest from APPCG members in Hong Kong and UK – Hong Kong relations.

Mark Hendrick MP and APPCG members

During the meeting the delegation discussed UK – China trade relations, economic development in Jiangsu province and foreign direct investment (FDI). A full report of the Jiangsu Delegation meeting can be read here.

A full report of the Tibet delegation meeting can be read here.

Acting as guest speakers at the seminar were Dr Susanna Jiang, Chief Medical Consultant at Herbal Inn; Dr Nicola Robinson of the Confucius Institute for Traditional Chinese Medicine at London South Bank University; and Mr Hui Jun Shen, President of the Association of Traditional Chinese Medicine UK and Senior Lecturer at the University of Lincoln.

All parties present agreed to that it would be beneficial to submit a brief report on the issues surrounding TCM regulation and integration in the UK to the Department of Health.