Ding Shizhong, president of ANTA Sports Products Limited and a deputy to the 13th National People's Congress attaches great importance to the role of innovation in sports goods industry growth. [Photo/Xinhua]

To gain a foothold in global markets, Chinese brands should shift focus to product quality and brand equity, rather than merely relying on low prices, said Ding Shizhong, president of ANTA Sports Products Limited, Sunday.

Gaining an upper hand over rivals in terms of products value and innovation is a new path Chinese brands should stick to while going global, Ding, also a deputy to the 13th National People's Congress, made the remarks amid the annual legislative session in Beijing.

ANTA is a leading sports products manufacturer in China. In 2017, the company's revenue registered roughly 16.7 billion yuan ($2.6 billion), maintaining 20 percent annual growth for four consecutive years.

According to Ding, ANTA's sound performance goes hand in hand with its great efforts in promoting innovation.

The company established its first R&D lab in 2005 and has filed more than 600 patents to date. Every year, 5.7 percent of the company's total investment goes towards R&D.

So far, ANTA has built a group of clothing and shoes R&D centers in countries including the United States, Japan and the Republic of Korea.