French luxe committee vows to help Chinese designers

(AFP/STR)

Women's Wear Daily reports that the Comité Colbert, France's union of luxury brands, has signed an agreement with the Chinese goverment November 27, assuring its help in developing the republic's creative industries.

According to the paper, the signing took place during a formal visit to France by Chinese minister of commerce, Chen Deming.

"This agreement will allow us to find organizations in China that would be willing to join us in advocating the values specific to creative industries: respect for intellectual property rights, the transmission of know-how and ethical conduct," the Comité Colbert's CEO, Elisabeth Ponsolle des Portes, said.

The self-protecting move follows another initiative introduced by the committee in October that saw the inauguration of a new web portal (ccolbert.fr) to promote French luxe products in China, the fastest-growing markets for companies such as Louis Vuitton.

WWD says that the new agreement is meant for both countries to enter into dialogue but is at present lacking concrete commercial implications.