China's Ministry of Commerce on Thursday expressed regret over the European Union's (EU's) decision to request the establishment of a World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute settlement panel in response to Chinese judicial rulings on standard essential patents (SEPs).
China will handle the request properly in accordance with WTO dispute settlement procedures, and will resolutely defend its legitimate rights and interests, an official from the ministry's department of treaty and law said in response to a media query.
On Feb 12, Geneva time, the EU announced it would request the establishment of a WTO panel concerning its dispute with China over judicial rulings related to SEP licensing litigation.
The official emphasized that China has always attached great importance to the protection of intellectual property rights (IPR).
In strict compliance with WTO rules and its accession commitments, China has continuously improved its IPR legislation and enforcement, achieving results that are evident to all, the official noted.
China regrets EU request for WTO panel, pledges to defend rights
China regrets EU request for WTO panel, pledges to defend rights
A promotional campaign to boost the growth of China's movie industry in 2026 was launched in Beijing on Thursday, featuring a wide range of cinema-related promotional events and discount schemes.
The campaign, initiated by the National Film Administration and China Media Group (CMG) in collaboration with the Ministry of Commerce, aims to grow the cultural appeal of Chinese cinema to boost box office and other movie-related revenues.
Shen Haixiong, deputy head of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and president of CMG, together with Vice Minister of Commerce Yan Dong, launched the event.
According to incomplete statistics, the total output value of China's film industry chain exceeded 810 billion yuan (about 117.17 billion U.S. dollars) in 2025, indicating that the film sector is an increasingly important economic contributor to different industries, including tourism and hospitality.
The campaign will encourage towns and cities across China to stage distinctive film promotion activities and expand interest in movies.
Major partners of the initiative have committed to providing at least 1.2 billion yuan in an effort to draw larger audiences into cinemas.
Several film distribution companies, along with Henan Broadcasting and Television Station, announced a growth plan for LED movie screens and virtual reality theaters in 2026, aiming to stimulate growth by introducing innovative viewing experiences.
The China Film Science and Technology Research Institute and Huaxia Film Distribution Co., Ltd. jointly initiated the establishment of a national film digital asset platform to facilitate the overall upgrading of the film industry chain. A pilot list of 16 cities was announced for developing "film+" consumption initiative over the next three years.
Promotional campaign launched in Beijing to boost film economy growth in 2026
