Beijing high-level forum aims to advance global IP governance

The High-level Forum on China IP Protection 2025 opened in Beijing on Monday, bringing together experts and industry leaders to discuss intellectual property governance amid AI-driven innovation.

Themed "Opportunity and Challenge: Intellectual Property Governance in the Context of Artificial Intelligence," the two-day event brings together leading voices from China and abroad to explore strategies for IP governance in an era of rapid technological advancement.

According to a report released by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), China currently holds the largest number of artificial intelligence patents in the world, accounting for 61 percent of the global total. This provides strong support for the development of China's AI industry.

"Digital tech patent applications have grown 172 percent faster on average than other technological fields in the past five years. And AI-related application growth was 700 percent faster. Among top patent owners in the field of generative AI, more than half of top ten are from China. China's stakeholders are significant players of IP in the generative AI field," said Kenichiro Natsume, Assistant Director General of WIPO.

Beijing high-level forum aims to advance global IP governance

Beijing high-level forum aims to advance global IP governance

Beijing hosts 2025 High-Level Forum to advance global IP governance

Beijing hosts 2025 High-Level Forum to advance global IP governance

A major port in northern Venezuela came under U.S. airstrikes in the early hours of January 3, which caused extensive damage to civilian infrastructure, destroyed critical medical supplies in a warehouse, and severely impacted centuries-old cultural heritage sites, according to local residents.

The La Guaira Port, a vital hub for imports that support daily life in the region, was heavily damaged during the attack.

Large quantities of medical supplies stored at the port were destroyed. A historic cultural building dating back for some 300 years was also badly damaged by the bombardment.

Residents living near the port recalled the terrifying scenes as explosions shook nearby neighborhoods.

Humberto Bolivar, who lives in a community separated from the port by only a main road, said the blast waves shattered his home's windows, while stray shrapnel struck the water tank on his roof. According to reports, three missiles were fired at the port that night.

Bolivar said that beyond material losses, he is most concerned about the psychological impact on his children, who remain too frightened to leave their home days after the attack.

"The United States invaded our country. The children were frightened. This is not good for them, because it leaves some children with psychological trauma. They do not want to go to school or leave the house, because they are afraid that something worse might happen. We truly do not want this to happen to our country," he said.

Apart from civilian facilities, local cultural heritage site was also affected.

The La Guaira state government building, a structure with nearly 300 years of history and once served as the site of Venezuela's first national customs office, was struck by the force of the explosions.

Windows of the building were shattered, and furniture scattered across the floor.

"As people of La Guaira, we feel deep pain. Our cultural heritage has been bombed. We are living in constant anxiety and suffering, and life can no longer be the same as it was before," said a local named Henry Cumares.

The U.S. side has claimed the airstrikes targeted warehouses allegedly used to store narcotics. However, locals refuted such accusation.

"According to what Donald Trump said, they bombed this place using the excuse that the warehouses here were used to store drugs at the port. But based on the video released by our governor, these warehouses that were burned contained medicine for kidney patients and foods. Many people depend on these supplies to survive. I think the bombing is extremely despicable," said a local resident named Alejandro Capriles.

US strike hits Venezuelan port, wrecking medical supplies, heritage building