NANJING — China received 712,000 applications for design patents in 2019, according to the 16th China (Wuxi) International Design Expo in 2020.

Good design can improve product function and quality, increase attractiveness, add value and even create new demand, said Shen Changyu, head of the National Intellectual Property Administration (NIPA).

"Made in China" is changing to "created in China", "designed in China", "intelligently made in China" and "refined in China", Shen said. Design is becoming more important in product research and development and marketing in the manufacturing industry, Shen added.

In recent years, China has been strengthening design protection. The revised patent law extends the term for protection of design patents from 10 to 15 years and grants patent protection for partial design.

The country has established 40 intellectual property protection centers and 22 fast rights-protection centers to carry out faster authorization, approval and design rights protection.

China has joined the Hague Agreement for the international registration of industrial designs, a mechanism aimed at intellectual property protection, to help Chinese firms enjoy worldwide protection for their designs.

The 16th China (Wuxi) International Design Expo in 2020 was held from Nov 14 to 16.