With intellectual property (IP) issues still fueling much of the China-US trade spat, partners of the Belt and Road Initiative are stepping in. 

Based on the idea of "inclusiveness, development, cooperation and mutual benefit," a high-level conference on intellectual property brought representatives from Belt and Road countries to Beijing on Tuesday. The meeting aims to enhance multilateral cooperation and seek solutions for current challenges.

Distinguished guests and experts from Belt and Road nations discussed topics on new trends in intellectual property development, IP commercialization, and improvement on related laws and protection of traditional heritage.

The Acting Vice President for Legal Affairs of Hungary IP Office, Andras Jokuti, says, "In recent months, we do see an intensification of cooperation in the field of IP. We have received several delegations from Chinese patent offices, from trademark offices, and also from offices from provinces, and a lot from enforcement authorities of the country, so all of these are excellent opportunities to exchange experiences and to exchange knowledge and reinforce cooperation."

In recent years, China has organized a series of IP training sessions for 69 officials from about 30 countries to improve their capacity in patent examination. The deepening cooperation has brought more opportunities for countries involved in the B&R.

The Deputy President of the Industrial Property Office of Czech Republic, Mr. Josef Dvornak, says, "We must cooperate because we need the same level of protection, which can support our business and our lives in our countries, so it is very important for the European countries as well as China, because when you open any shops in EU, you can find Chinese products, and these products must be from China or made by the license. It is very important."

The Vice-President of International Affairs of EU Patent Office, Raimund Lutz, says, "In Chinese and European patent offices, we cooperate on international levels, and it helps to harmonize the patent system. As minister Li mentioned today that it is very important that we have a harmonized system which brings the win-win situation to both sides."

Since the Belt and Road Initiative was launched in 2013, patent applications from Chinese filers have grown 16 percent, reaching more than 5,000 in B&R countries last year. Experts say in the digital age, the Internet and artificial intelligence have posed new challenges for IP protection. The cooperation is essential in patents, trademarks, industrial designs and geographical indication trademarks.