The Forum on the Protection of Reading Rights of the Print-disabled, a key event of the 4th China National Conference on Reading, was held in Taiyuan. The Forum was co-organized by the Copyright Department of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee and the Cultural and Publicity Department of the China Disabled Persons’ Federation. Ms. Liu Hua, Director of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Office in China, delivered a keynote speech.
Ms. Liu emphasized the importance of the WIPO-administered Marrakesh Treaty, currently the only international human rights treaty in the field of copyright. Designed to improve access to published works for persons with print disabilities, the Treaty guarantees their equal right to participate in cultural and educational life. Following its entry into force in China, the National Copyright Administration of China (NCAC) issued interim regulations to facilitate the provision of works in accessible formats, and both the China Braille Press and the China Braille Library joined the Global Book Service of WIPO’s Accessible Books Consortium (ABC), contributing to the effective implementation of the Treaty in China.
Ms. Liu introduced the World IP Day and the WIPO Global Awards, as well as WIPO’s copyright-related resources, such as the Accessible Books Consortium and the WIPO for Creators platform. She encouraged professionals in the copyright and creative industries to make full use of WIPO’s services and to leverage IP as a powerful tool for personal growth, business development, and broader economic, social and cultural development.
Ms. Liu also highlighted the musical and recitation performances presented by students from the Taiyuan School for the Blind and the Shanxi Special Education Secondary School, as well as artists from the Zuoquan County Blind Performance Troupe during the Forum. Their heartfelt and moving performances powerfully demonstrated the transformative impact of reading and the arts, aligning closely with the Forum’s theme and also echoing the 2025 World IP Day theme, “IP and Music,” vividly showcasing how music nurtures the souls of persons with disabilities, empowers their growth, and serves as an important channel for expressing themselves, conveying emotions, and integrating into society.
About the Forum on the Protection of Reading Rights of the Print-disabled
As a key event of the 4th China National Conference on Reading and the 2025 National IP Publicity Week, the Forum on the Protection of Reading Rights of the Print-disabled was held under the theme “Copyright Safeguards Rights, Technology Empowers Reading.” The Forum focused on the implementation of the Marrakesh Treaty in China, exploring practical experiences in copyright-based reading rights protection and the innovative application of technology to support accessible reading. It aimed to advance comprehensive reading accessibility for persons with print disabilities.
Mr. Zhu Yongxin, Vice Chairperson of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), Mr. Zhang Chunlin, Chairperson of the Shanxi Provincial Committee of the CPPCC, Mr. Cheng Kai, Standing Committee Member of the CPPCC and Chairperson of the China Disabled Persons’ Federation, and Mr. Wang Zhicheng, Director General of the Copyright Department of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee attended and addressed the Forum. They emphasized the need to strengthen the protection of reading rights, create a better accessible reading environment, and contribute the power of copyright to enabling the visually impaired community to better share the fruits of cultural development.
At the Forum, copyright and disability authorities from Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, and Shanxi, together with the China Braille Press and other institutions, jointly launched the “Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei-Shanxi Accessible Reading Initiative.” In addition, twelve technology and cultural enterprises announced a new public-interest initiative, “Copyright Empowerment – Tech for Enjoyable Reading,” aimed at supporting the visually impaired community.
The event also featured performances by students from the Taiyuan School for the Blind, the Shanxi Special Education Secondary School, and the Zuoquan County Blind Performance Troupe. More than 160 participants attended the Forum, representing the fields of publishing, copyright, disability affairs, and special education.
