On 16 January 2017, Switzerland and China signed a declaration of continued cooperation between the Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property and the Chinese State Intellectual Property Organization in Bern.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has existed between the Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property (IPI) and the Chinese State Intellectual Property Organization (SIPO) since 2012. At its core is an annual exchange of issues and concerns between Switzerland and China relevant to intellectual property. The main focus of these exchanges concerns issues on patent and design protection as well as the enforcement of these intellectual property rights.
 
With the Chinese State Intellectual Property Organization (SIPO) and the Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property (IPI) wishing to continue their successful collaboration, the visit of the Chinese Head of State Xi Jinping from 15 to 16 January 2017 in Bern provided an opportunity for Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter and the Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi to sign the declaration of continued cooperation. The renewed MoU (pdf 194 KB) serves to strengthen the broader framework of the Sino-Swiss innovative strategic partnership. China recognises that innovation is a key instrument for the further development of its economy in which protecting intellectual property rights play an important role. In addition, the renewed MoU establishes a round table between representatives from industry and the economy, which will take place between the IPI and the SIPO following the official meetings.

With its innovative export industry, Switzerland benefits from the cooperation with China in matters of intellectual property, particularly with regard to the still numerous problems that Swiss companies encounter in China in protecting and enforcing intellectual property rights. In recent years, this cooperation has allowed Switzerland to solve specific problems such as those concerning the misuse of the designation "Swiss" and the Swiss cross on Chinese products. The agreement signed will enable this privileged exchange to continue.

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