China issues plan to develop intellectual property

BEIJING - China has issued a plan to strengthen the protection and utilization of intellectual property rights.

Issued by the State Council, the plan specifies the goals and major tasks for the development of intellectual property during the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-2020), and proposes measures for the work.

By 2020, China's invention patent ownership will increase from 6.3 per 10,000 people in 2015 to 12 in 10,000, and international applications will double to 60,000 from 30,000 in 2015, according to the plan.

In the meantime, intellectual property royalties earned abroad will rise from 4.44 billion U.S. dollars in 2015 to 10 billion U.S. dollars in 2020, the plan says.

The plan puts forward seven major tasks for the development of intellectual property, such as improving the legal system for intellectual property rights, strengthening protection of intellectual property rights, improving quality and benefits, promoting industrial upgrading, and promoting international cooperation and exchanges.

It urges governments at all levels and relevant government agencies to attach importance to the issue and promote implementation of the plan.