Patent attorneys and agencies are playing an increasingly important role in supporting national intellectual property development, building China into an innovation-driven country and expanding high-level opening-up, said Shen Changyu, commissioner of the National Intellectual Property Administration.

Shen made the remark at the 10th national member representative conference of the All-China Patent Attorneys Association in Beijing on Dec 19, which attracted more than 300 participants.

"By the end of November, China had 2,649 patent agencies and more than 20,000 licensed patent attorneys, 1.9 times and 1.5 times respectively that at the end of 2012," Shen said.

"China has reached a new starting point, which requires us to figure out the goals, measures and emphasis of patent work in the next stage, keep improving the services of patent attorneys and agencies, while making sure that their work echoes the national call to be an IP powerhouse," Shen added.

At the conference, He Hua, deputy head of NIPA, was announced as its new president, and director of the Patent and Trademark Law Office under the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade.

Ma Hao and other 11 members were elected vice-presidents.

The association elected 199 members and 55 executive directors of the 10th council of ACPAA. It also passed the work report and financial report of its ninth council and plans on its name change, membership fee changes and regulation adjustments.