A memorandum of understanding will be signed Sunday between Japan's Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Toshihiro Nikai (left) and his Chinese counterpart, Commerce Minister Chen Deming (right), the source said. -- PHOTOS: AFP
TOKYO - JAPAN and China have agreed to launch annual talks on jointly cracking down on copyright infringement and trademark piracy, a well-placed source said on Thursday.
Japanese companies have protested about factories in China that produce knock-off versions of products ranging from movie DVDs and fashion items to perfumes and electronics.
Tokyo hopes the talks, which are to include Japanese officials from the police and the technology and science ministry, will put it in a stronger position to tackle the counterfeiting issue.
Tokyo and Beijing have 'reached a basic accord on launching a working team to discuss and solve problems regarding intellectual property rights,' with the first round of talks to be held later this year, the source told AFP.
A memorandum of understanding will be signed Sunday between Japan's Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Toshihiro Nikai and his Chinese counterpart, Commerce Minister Chen Deming, the source said.
Sunday's bilateral meeting will take place on the sidelines of a broader economic dialogue between top officials from the two nations.
A delegation from Beijing led by Vice Premier Wang Qishan, the country's top economic official, is scheduled to meet Sunday with the Japanese side headed by Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone. -- AFP
