Chinese mainland holds over 5.66 mln valid invention patents, ranking first worldwide.

The number of valid invention patents held on the Chinese mainland had reached 5.667 million by the end of July 2026, according to the latest official data released at the 15th China Intellectual Property Annual Conference (CIPAC), which is taking place in Beijing from Tuesday to Wednesday.

By the end of the first half of the year, the number of valid invention patents in China's strategic emerging industries had reached 1.746 million, with the average ownership of high-value invention patents topping 16.8 patents per 10,000 people, according to data from the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA).

China's international patent applications filed through the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)'s Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) have ranked first in the world for seven consecutive years, with applications under the Hague System for international registration of industrial designs and the Madrid System for international trademarks among the leading levels globally.

In terms of utilization, the added value of China's patent-intensive industries has exceeded 18 trillion yuan (about 2.68 trillion U.S. dollars), accounting for 13.38 percent of the gross domestic product. Meanwhile, annual imports and exports of intellectual property royalties have surpassed 400 billion yuan, the CNIPA said.

China's innovation capabilities have also gained global recognition. According to WIPO's Global Innovation Index 2025, China's ranking has risen to 10th place worldwide, marking the first time the country has entered the global top 10. The country has also had the world's largest number of innovation clusters among the top 100 global rankings for three consecutive years.

With the theme of promoting high-quality IP development during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030), this year's CIPAC will include one main forum, 13 parallel sessions, and over 20 activities focused on topics such as artificial intelligence, patent services and the newly revised Trademark Law.

Since its inauguration in 2010, the annual CIPAC has become a high-end platform for showcasing China's development in the IP sector, facilitating exchanges on cutting-edge industry topics and promoting related services.

Chinese mainland holds over 5.66 mln valid invention patents, ranking first worldwide.

Panama declared a state of emergency on Saturday to coordinate relief efforts and assist communities affected by a powerful earthquake that struck the country Friday.

The 7.6-magnitude earthquake struck Panama at 12:56 local time Friday, with its epicenter about 39 km northwest of Tonosi in Los Santos province, damaging homes, schools, health facilities, roads and public buildings across several parts of the country.

The quake has left 27 people injured as of present, according to Panama's National Civil Protection System.

Presidency Minister Juan Carlos Orillac told a press conference at the presidential palace that the declaration would ensure government agencies remain on standby and have the resources needed to assist those affected.

Orillac said President Jose Raul Mulino had ordered the creation of a commission to coordinate relief operations, manage resources and address the needs of affected communities.

The government has also set up donation collection centers, including one at Omar Park in Panama City, while provincial government offices will serve as additional collection points, he said.

Panamanian authorities continue to assess the damage and coordinate emergency response efforts.

Panama declares state of emergency after powerful quake