GD is a province of the Pearl River Valley, and it has close economic and trade relation with neighboring provinces and Hong Kong (HK) and Macau. In 2006, in IPR fields, GD deepened cooperation with HK and with other provinces of the Pan-Pearl River Delta (PRD). GD strived to improve the Mechanism of GD-HK IPR Protection Cooperation, and the Mechanism of IPR Cooperation of the Pan-PRD Region (9 China Mainland Provinces plus HK and Macao), hence intensifying the cross-border protection of IPR.

GD-HK IPR cooperation, since its activation in 2003, has been making ever greater progress. At present, GD-HK IP cooperation works smoothly on an effective mechanism of regular meetings combined with diverse projects. Now the IPR authorities of both GD and HK have convened five meetings and conducted over 20 cooperation projects. Among the projects, the "No Fakes Pledge Movement", the "Seminars on IPR and Small & Medium-Sized Enterprises Development" and some other projects have become famous brand activities of GD-HK IPR cooperation, exerting ever greater social influence in both areas. The "GD-HK-Macau IPR Information Database"(www.ip-prd.net) project has made it much easier and more convenient for the general public to get knowledge about the IPR systems in GD, HK and Macao.

The GD-HK Cross-border Infringement Handling Mechanism has worked smoothly in terms of suppressing cross-border IPR infringement. GD customs made full use of the mechanism of cooperation with HK and Macau by conducting information exchange, cooperative investigation and joint operations. In 2006, GD customs and HK and Macau customs shared over 200 pieces of intelligence concerning IPR protection, and met for more than 20 times. They conducted 6 joint enforcement operations in such ports as Luohu, Huanggang, Shatoujiao, Wenjindu, Gongbei and Hengqin, seizing nearly 30 cases of IPR infringement; they also jointly investigated over 30 cases of IPR infringement. Meanwhile, the trademark administration authorities of GD and HK established more convenient channels of communication, preliminarily building a coordinated mechanism of cooperation and improving the efficiency of handling affairs concerning trademarks of both sides.

Since its initiation by GD in 2004, the Pan-PRD IPR cooperation has been progressing steadily. Its scope of cooperation has been expanding, and the results of cooperation becoming increasingly prominent. By the end of 2006, two Pan-PRD IPR Cooperation Joint Conferences had been convened, three Pan-PRD IPR Forums held, and 17 cooperation projects conducted including the "Mechanism of Pan-PRD Cross-Boundary Cooperation in Administrative Enforcement of Patents", the "Research of Effective Assessment of Pan-PRD IPR Protection", the "Research of Pan-PRD Industry Transfer", and the "Research of the Status Quo of Pan-PRD IPR Talents and Service Agencies". In 2006, GD Provincial AIC established the Pan-PRD information exchange channel, sharing the name lists of well-known trademarks of all mainland Pan-PRD provinces, and hence establishing a mechanism of regional cooperation in investigating trademark cases. In the same year, the Pan-PRD Cooperation Mechanism for Combating Counterfeiting also made new advances, in that the Drug Administration and Inspection Cooperation Committee was established. The Pan-PRD IPR Cooperation has become China's first platform for cross-department, cross-province liaison, coordination, service and programmes in the IPR field, thus facilitating IPR protection and economic development of the Pan-PRD Region as a whole.

Editor: Wing