IP Scene

1.Tianjin

Wind farm set to begin operations

The city's first wind farm in the Binhai New Area is expected to be operational in May. In addition to making clean energy, it will use internationally advanced technologies to increase power transmission efficiency.

After the farm begins operation, it will provide more than 52 kWh annually for the area.

Costing more than 300 million yuan in its first stage, the 3.5 sq km farm will accommodate 13 proprietary wind power generators, each with an installed capacity of 2 mW.

Hoisting of four wind turbines is complete and the main control facilities have been installed.

The project's second stage is expected to start construction within this year if preparation work goes smoothly, according to Xinhuanet. Com.

2.Shanghai

Illegal Expo tags seized by customs

Local customs recently seized a shipment of more than 20,000 tags marked with the logo of the World Expo 2010.

The shipment imported from Italy was designed for sales promotion with each of the tags covered in silver film that can be scratched away to win potential prizes, which bore the title "Expo2010Shanghai" at the bottom.

The importers cannot prove that the use of the Expo's name was authorized, so customs found the shipment to be illegal and infringing.

3.Shandong

Robotic games conclude in Jinan

The FIRST Lego League (FLL) China Open 2010 robotic competition concluded in Jinan, capital of the eastern province, in late March after attracting more than 1,000 participants from 18 provinces and cities.

Beijing No 2 Secondary School won the tournament and will compete with teams from around the world in the championship round set for May in Taiwan.

The FLL, jointly founded in 1998 by the US non-profit organization For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) and Demark's Lego Group, is designed for youngsters from nine to 16 years old.

More than 90,000 youths participated in the event worldwide in 2009.

4.Zhejiang

Lawyers to help in trade disputes

A group of lawyers began to offer free consultancy in April for industries in the coastal province to help them cope with trade frictions.

Founded at end March, the group of 50 lawyers plans to visit 50 export-import demonstration sites and provide legal services in foreign trade, overseas investment, intellectual property, and mediation and arbitration.

As an export powerhouse, the province is home to businesses that face a growing number of trade frictions worldwide.

Last year alone, 90 investigations in 16 countries and regions including the United States, Turkey, India and the European Union were filed against Zhejiang companies involving goods worth more than $3.6 billion.

The case numbers accounted for 68 percent of the nation's total and 30 percent of its disputed goods value.

To cope with the trend, local trade associations have built 50 demonstration sites for early warning in foreign trade. The sites highlight vibrant industries in the province such as shoe making in Wenzhou, aquatic products in Zhoushan and software and hardware manufacturing in Jiaxing.

5.Sichuan

10 favorite brands announced

Ten most favorite local brands and 10 top companies with growth potential were announced in Chengdu, capital of the southwestern province, at the end March.

Encouraging local companies to enhance their brand building has been listed a priority in the agenda of the city government.

Nearly 70 brands secured the status of well-known trademark last year, increasing the city's number of well-known trademarks to 278.

This year, the government plans to help six to 10 nationally famous trademarks and foster large branded enterprises, each of which is projected to exceed 1 billion yuan in annual sales revenue.

6.Shaanxi

Cultural heritage highlights festival

A western intangible cultural heritage show will begin today and end next Tuesday in Xi'an, capital of the southwestern province.

The event will feature 60 national and provincial-level cultural projects from the provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions in west China.

Artistic performances, craftsmanship shows and cuisine exhibitions are all part of the weeklong event.

A series of forums and displays of Chinese relics retrieved from overseas and in private collections will run concurrently.

During the event, a 32,000 sq m private-funded museum on an archaeological site from the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907) will be unveiled. It is home to more than 20,000 historic and cultural items from when Xi'an was the capital of the dynasty.

(China Daily 04/07/2010 page17)