WIPO China: WIPO Assistant Director General Edward Kwakwa Attends the 2026 International Symposium on Intellectual Property and Traditional Cultural Expressions

The 2026 International Symposium on Intellectual Property and Traditional Cultural Expressions was held in Fuzhou, Jiangxi Province from September 7 to 9. The Symposium was co-hosted by the National Copyright Administration of China (NCAC) and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and organized by the Jiangxi Provincial Copyright Administration and the Fuzhou Municipal People's Government. Mr. Edward Kwakwa, WIPO Assistant Director General, attended the opening ceremony and delivered remarks.

Participants included officials from copyright authorities in more than 30 countries, representatives from the Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions, experts and scholars, and representatives of Chinese copyright administrations, pilot areas and copyright associations, totalling nearly 400. During the Symposium, participants conducted a field visit in Fuzhou to explore local practice in using the copyright system to protect and promote traditional cultural expressions (TCEs).

Participants included officials from copyright authorities in more than 30 countries, representatives from the Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions, experts and scholars, and representatives of Chinese copyright administrations, pilot areas and copyright associations, totalling nearly 400. During the Symposium, participants conducted a field visit in Fuzhou to explore local practice in using the copyright system to protect and promote traditional cultural expressions (TCEs).

Participants noted that traditional cultural expressions embody the cultural DNA and spiritual aspirations of all ethnic groups and constitute a shared spiritual heritage of humanity. Around common topics such as how to safeguard cultural roots in the age of artificial intelligence and how to build a fair and balanced governance framework amid cross-border circulation, participants held discussions and expressed that stronger copyright protection, deeper integration with industry and digital technologies, and closer international cooperation are needed to foster cultural innovation and mutual learning among civilizations.