In 2002, Chinafurther developed its relation with the World Intellectual Property Organization.

From 21-22 May, the Chinaand Africa IPR Forum jointly sponsored by WIPO and China's State Intellectual Property Office was held in Beijing. Nearly 100 representatives from WIPO, World Bank, WTO, UNDP and Organization of African Unity and 16 African countries took part in the forum. Chinese premier Zhu Rongji met with Mr. Idris, director-general of the Organization and his party. Vice Premier Wen Jiabao attended the opening ceremony and addressed the forum. This forum represented a significant move by China and African countries to enhance exchange and cooperation in the field of intellectual property in the new century, and a demonstration of the strong aspiration and firm conviction on the part of China and African countries to create an environment for knowledge innovation and protection of intellectual property rights so as to jointly look forward to a brighter future. The forum discussed such agenda items as IPR and economic development, IPR and information technology, challenges facing the IPR system in the 21stcentury and new emerging IPR. In the course of the forum, Chinaand WIPO signed a framework cooperation agreement. The forum has broadened the cooperation between the IPR professionals in Chinaand Africa, further expanded China's influence in the IPR field, and forged a still closer relationship between Chinaand the WIPO.

From 10-19 July, WIPO, the Ministry of Science and Technology and State Intellectual Property Office of China jointly organized an international seminar in Guangdongdevoted to the importance of intellectual property rights system in Asiafor the hi-tech firms. Representatives from 22 Asian countries took part in the seminar. In the course of the seminar, WIPO also organized a five-day country training course in entrepreneurs' IPR of the WTO.

From 23 September to 1 October, the Assembly of the Member States of WIPO (the 37thSeries of Meetings) was convened in Geneva, Switzerland . The Chinese delegation was composed of representatives from the State Intellectual Property Office, the State Administration of Industry and Commerce, the State Bureau of Patents and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The theme topic of the Assembly included the procedure for the nomination of director-general 2003, the implementation of the annual plan 2001-2002, audio-visual diplomatic conference, development agenda of international patent system, law enforcement advisory committee, internet domain name, matters related to the Madrid Alliance and matters associated with the patent cooperation treaty. Wang Jingchuan, head of the Chinese delegation and the director of the State Intellectual Property Office announced at the Assembly that the leaders' WIPO meeting would be held in Beijing from 24-26 April 2003 at the request of WIPO. Besides, the Chinese delegation briefed the Assembly on the achievements gained by China in enforcing the IPR system and the principled position on major issues in the current IPR field. Li Dongsheng, vice director of the State Administration of Industry and Commerce was elected vice chairman of the Paris Alliance Executive Board, and Tian Lipu, vice director of the State Intellectual property Office was elected vice chairman of the coordination committee.