SIPO's proposal on incorporating Chinese patent documentation in PCT (Patent Cooperation Treaty) minimum documentation was passed at the PCT Union of the "49th Assemblies of the Member States of WIPO" held at Geneva, Switzerland on September 29. With this in effect, PCT member states are required to search Chinese patent documentation (invention) when performing examination for PCT applications. China becomes the first developing country having its patent documentation listed in PCT minimum documentation.

As of December 31, 2010, invention patent applications filed in China had reached 2.33 million. In 2010, nearly 75% of invention patent applications filed in China actually made their global debut. PCT applications with Chinese origin also ranked No.4 in the world. 

The PCT minimum documentation refers to the must-search documentation when examiner of member states of PCT Union examining PCT application, which covers the latest and advanced technologies of the most innovative countries. At present, the minimum documentation includes the patent documentation provided by France, Germany, Japan, Russia, Switzerland, the Great Britain, the U.S., South Korea, European Patent Office and PCT organization.

(Source: www.cipnews.com.cn)