"The Chinese government has a strong attitude and confidence in fighting counterfeiting and will continue to fulfill strictly its international obligations and further its cooperation with the region in terms of IPR protection," said Vice Premier Wu Yi in a letter presented on Monday to the Global Congress/World Customs Organization (WCO) Regional Forum on Protection of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR). The two-day meeting is being held in Shanghai.

Following the First Global Congress on fighting counterfeiting held in Brussels in May, the forum is one of the most significant IPR events in the Asia-Pacific region. It is also a major effort by the General Administration of Customs of China since it was nominated as vice chair of the WCO in June. China vowed at the meeting to become an Asian-Pacific model in the fight against counterfeiting.

Countries in the Asia-Pacific region, their administrations, agencies and private sector partners have identified counterfeiting as a major problem. It significantly harms national and business interests through the loss of tax and company revenues, diversion of resources and higher costs for law enforcement, creating a negative impact on economic development, employment and investment.

Data presented at the forum show that trade in counterfeits endangers the health, safety and security of consumers. Trade in fake goods amounts to nearly US$600 billion a year, and a large proportion of it goes to funding international organized crime.

"Combating counterfeiting has become a major agenda of the international community as the trade in this sector enlarges and grows as a problem, which requires governments at all levels to place a higher priority on it," said Kunio Mikuriya, WCO deputy secretary general.

Mikuriya praised China's efforts in fighting counterfeiting and urged the country to be more dedicated.

The forum, serving to enhance cooperation and identify areas for improving synergies and action, is expected to discuss and pass a Shanghai Initiative on Tuesday.

Established in 1952 as the Customs Cooperation Council and headquartered in Belgium, the WCO is an independent intergovernmental body whose mission is to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of Customs administrations. With 164 member countries, it is the only intergovernmental worldwide organization competent in Customs matters.

An Asia-Pacific Secretariat of the WCO IPR Strategic Group was established early this year to help WCO members find solutions to the problem of counterfeiting in the region.

   Han Zheng, mayor of Shanghai

Yu Chu, deputy secretary-general of WCO

(China Daily, China.org.cn November 23, 2004)