BEIJING — China has approved 2,394 geographical indication (GI) products and seen 6,116 GI trademarks registered as of the end of January, according to the National Intellectual Property Administration (NIPA).

More than 10,000 enterprises had received permission to use GIs by the end of January. The total output value of enterprises using GIs was 639.8 billion yuan (about $99 billion) in 2020.

GI is a type of intellectual property that indicates the geographical origin, reputation, and other characteristics of a product.

GI plays an important role in improving the added value of products, protecting consumer interests, and preserving traditional cultural heritage. China has rolled out measures for the use of GI and fostered the protection of GI, according to the NIPA.