UN celebrates intellectual property

Creation and innovation have been the "beacon" for human civilization and the fountain nurturing human progress, said Liu Jieyi, China's ambassador to the UN, at a commemorative event marking World Intellectual Property Day 2017, which falls on Wednesday.

The Chinese mission to the United Nations co-sponsored the commemorative event, organized by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

"The intellectual property (IP) system, as a guardian and driver of innovation and creation, has been front and center in boosting productivity and progress, by sparking enthusiasm for, channeling investment in and rewarding invention," he said.

China has placed innovation at the top of its development strategy, Liu said.

Liu highlighted some features, including China’s incorporation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in the 13th Five-Year Plan and its launch of the campaign of Mass Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

The theme of the World IP Day this year is "Innovation - Improving Lives", with a particular focus on women as innovators and beneficiaries of innovation for socioeconomic development.

Liu said China champions women as inventors along with their participation in major research and development projects.

As indicated in "World Intellectual Property Indicators 2016", from 2011 to 2015, Chinese women ranked second in the number of inventors and first in international patent applications. In civil engineering, mechanics and transportation, 42.6 percent of China's patent applications come from women, the highest among all countries.