China, BRI partners forge closer ties on IP

Patent applications rise on both sides, especially in digital, green sectors

China and other countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative have increased cooperation in intellectual property rights, with major progress seen in patent applications, an official at the country's top IP regulator said on Wednesday.

Liang Xinxin, a spokesman for the China National Intellectual Property Administration, said at a news conference that China and other BRI economies have seen vibrant patent development on both sides over the past decade, especially in the digital and green sectors.

Liang cited data to show that Chinese enterprises had applied for 70,000 patents in other BRI countries and relevant organizations from 2013 to 2023, maintaining an average annual growth rate of over 20 percent.