China: intellectual property and sci-tech innovation hotspot

According to Shen, the number of China's invention patent applications by overseas applicants enjoyed annual growth of 11.24 percent in the past four decades and the number of trademark applications increased 15.49 percent annually, which signified foreign merchants' confidence in the Chinese market and intellectual property protection. The Chinese government has been encouraging domestic and foreign companies to maintain technology communication and cooperation, protecting the intellectual protection of foreign-funded enterprises in China, whilst also wishing for the enhanced protection of Chinese intellectual properties from foreign governments.

"China is now a big country of intellectual protection, with its trademark applications having ranked top in the world for 16 consecutive years and the invention patent applications ranking top for seven consecutive years. The applications under the Patent Co-operation Treaty (PCT) and Madrid International trademark applications rose to the second and third place, respectively in the world list," Shen added.

Li Chenggang, Assistant Minister of Commerce said that the application and registration of domestic and effective intellectual properties witnessed soaring growth. The strengthened IP protection and strong administrative enforcement have stimulated the mass entrepreneurship, making China a hot spot for IP creation and sci-tech innovation.

Li also pointed out that China has positively participated in the global IP rule making and IP communication. The Ministry of Commerce has collaborated with the US and EU on IP projects, with the China-Europe project having served as a model in both countries.

Gurry said he was impressed by China's dramatic achievements in intellectual property.

A panel discussion on Global IP Protection in Innovation Development is held at the forum on Nov 6, 2018. [Photo by Xue Xinyi]

"IP protection has driven the development of high-end service trade and the foreign right holders have benefited from China’s IP protection. The country will continue its efforts to rev up IP protection," Zhang Zhicheng, head of the department of IPR protection of CNIPA said at the panel discussion.