Foreign
China continues strengthening sci-tech innovation capabilities

By Xu Lingyuan, People’s Daily
China, for the second consecutive year, leads the world with 26 science and technology innovation clusters in the top 100, according to an early release from the 2024 edition of the World Intellectual Property Organization’s (WIPO) Global Innovation Index (GII).
Carsten Fink, chief economist of WIPO, noted that four of China’s innovation clusters ranked among the global top 10, including Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou, Beijing, and Shanghai-Suzhou clusters.
Notably, Nanjing jumped from 12th to 9th place in 2024, and several Chinese innovation clusters not previously in the top 100 have now entered the rankings.
This overall trend reflects China’s significant increase in technological output, particularly in international patents. Much of this innovation is happening in China’s cities and metropolitan areas, which is a remarkable achievement. Across several key metrics, the technological innovation capabilities of many Chinese industries are now at the forefront of the world.
The science and technology innovation clusters in the GII refer to cities or city clusters. The global ranking is based on two key metrics. The first one focuses on the location of inventors listed in published patent applications under the WIPO Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT). The second one considers the authors listed in published scientific articles. The WIPO compiles and ranks these metrics to determine the most active regions for technological activity globally.
The growing number of innovation clusters highlights China’s dynamic and promising technological innovation potential.
China has been a global leader in the number of patent applications for years. According to the World Intellectual Property Indicators 2021 issued by the WIPO, China filed the most patent applications globally. The China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) received 1.59 million patent applications, nearly half of the world’s total.
Shen Changyu, head of the CNIPA, said that in the first half of 2024, the number of patent transfers and licenses by Chinese universities and research institutions increased by 22.2 percent year-on-year, with a batch of high-value patents rapidly applied in high-end, intelligent, and green industries. The added value of China’s patent-intensive industries reached 15.3 trillion yuan ($2.15 trillion), with their share in the country’s GDP rising to 12.7 percent.
The global impact of Chinese scientific papers is also steadily increasing. A 2023 report on Chinese scientific papers, published by the Institute of Scientific and Technical Information under China’s Ministry of Science and Technology, revealed that for the first time, China ranked first worldwide in the number of papers published in the most influential journals across all disciplines. China also led the world in both the number of high-level international journal papers and citations.
China is seeing an emergence of more and more high-value intellectual property (IP). As of June this year, China had nearly 4.43 million valid domestic invention patents, with 72.8 percent of them held by enterprises, which indicated a growing trend of corporate innovation. The number of high-value invention patents per 10,000 people reached 12.9, while the number of valid registered Chinese domestic trademarks hit a record high of 45.9 million.
Between 2014 and 2023, there were 54,000 patent applications related to generative AI worldwide. Of these, more than 38,000 were filed by China, accounting for 70.3 percent of the total, placing China at the top globally.
From 2016 to 2023, China recorded 3,637 applications and 1,664 grants for green and low-carbon inventions in Belt and Road partner countries and relevant organizations, with an average annual growth rate reaching 26 percent and 21.3 percent respectively. From 2020 to 2023, the growth rate further increased to 65.4 percent and 49.6 percent.
Currently, China is strengthening international IP cooperation. Sheng Li, deputy head of the CNIPA’s International Cooperation Department, noted that China has established stable cooperative relationships with over 80 countries and regions and is currently implementing more than 200 IP cooperation agreements.
China is actively expanding its opening up in the IP sector and is deeply involved in global IP governance under the framework of the WIPO.
China has successfully joined the Hague Agreement Concerning the International Deposit of Industrial Designs and the Marrakesh Treaty. It has also played a role in promoting the conclusion of WIPO treaties on IP, genetic resources, and related traditional knowledge.
Chinese applicants continue to rank among the top globally in terms of applications in the three major systems of the WIPO: the PCT international patent system, the Hague Agreement Concerning the International Deposit of Industrial Designs, and the Madrid System.
As of June this year, the number of valid foreign invention patents in China reached 919,000, and the number of valid registered foreign trademarks in China hit 2.135 million, both showing steady growth.
Foreign
Judge blocks Trump from deporting non-citizens using wartime law

A federal judge has temporarily halted the Trump administration’s attempt to deport migrants allegedly linked to the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua under a wartime law.
US District Judge James Boasberg issued a restraining order preventing the administration from using the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to expel undocumented migrants accused of gang ties. The order initially protected five individuals challenging the deportation but was later expanded to all affected noncitizens in US custody.
Boasberg also directed that any planes carrying these migrants be returned to the United States. “Any plane containing these folks that is going to take off or is in the air needs to be returned,” he ruled. The restraining order will remain in effect for 14 days or until further court action.
The Trump administration invoked the Alien Enemies Act, citing Tren de Aragua as a terrorist organization that has “unlawfully infiltrated the United States” and is engaging in hostile actions. However, civil rights groups, including the ACLU, argue that the gang’s activities do not meet the legal definition of an invasion.
The Justice Department has appealed the ruling, while the case continues in court.
Foreign
China’s new chapter in global innovation

By Gu Yekai, Liu Yiqing, People’s Daily
At a smart construction project site managed by China State Construction Engineering Corporation, a quiet technological revolution is underway. Amid cranes and concrete, engineers are deploying advanced artificial intelligence (AI) systems that could fundamentally reshape the construction industry.
Li Fengjian, an AI specialistwith Xianyuan Technology, detailed how the company’s latest intelligent system – built on a large model – adapts to complex construction environments.”Engineering machinery equipped with intelligent agents can adjust its operations automatically in response to weather conditions,” Li explained, adding that a spatiotemporal sensing network further enhances the system, providing real-time tracking of both personnel and materials throughout the construction site.
In February this year, Xianyuan Technology rapidly integrated its self-developed model with DeepSeek-R1, effectively blending a general-purpose framework with industry-specific models. This integration, Li noted, has produced a solution capable of delivering expert-level performance in challenging, dynamic environments. The firm is based in the Shanghai Foundation Model Innovation Center, aburgeoning AI incubator that now hosts over 200 innovative enterprises.
China’s technological transformation extends well beyond the construction sector. Overthe past three decades, the country has evolved from its initial forays into internet connectivity to becoming a key player in global digital innovation.
Here, a steady stream of technological innovations are emerging, from the early days of emails and web browsing to the cutting-edge technologies represented by DeepSeek and the dynamic evolution of social media.
Wu Jianping, an academician at the Chinese Academy of Engineering and headof the Zhongguancun Laboratory, pointed out that while China had introduced only one internet standard before 2005, it now contributes to over 200 worldwide. Such strides illustrate the country’s concerted push toward high-level technological self-reliance – a journey marked by both persistence and determination.
Beyond the digital realm, China is makingsignificant inroads in aerospace, new energy, and other high-tech sectors. It has transitioned from being a follower to standing shoulder-to-shoulder with global leaders, and in some areas, even taking the lead. Wu attributed these achievements to a dynamic ecosystem of policy reforms and talent cultivation that encourages creativity and technical expertise at every level.
Amid intensifying international competition, collaborative research and the integration of new technologies with traditional industries are central to China’s high-quality economic development.
Mei Linhai, a researcher at China’s State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Intelligence, remarked that the age of AI calls for continuous exploration. “In this era, everyone is an innovator. Only by persistently pushing the boundaries can we remain at the forefront of both technological and industrial development,” Mei observed.
In the field of general-purpose AI, Mei emphasized that independent innovation is paramount. He advocates for a self-driven industrial ecosystem that leveragesbreakthrough technologies to boost productivity and unlock new possibilities, Mei said.
Foreign
Chinese democracy in action:a village bench meeting shapes national law

By Wei Zhezhe, Liu Botong, People’s Daily
In a modest corner of Jiangmen, south China’s Guangdong province, residents of Weidong village are experiencing firsthand a form of democracy that starts at the grassroots level and reverberates all the way to Beijing.
Wu Tengxin, a local villager who relies on a scooter for daily mobility after contracting polio, recalls a time when the village’s public spaces were ill-equipped for people with disabilities. Now, thanks to a simple suggestion made during a meeting, his everyday life has changed.
In November 2022, a team from a local legislative outreach office – a branch of China’sNational People’s Congress (NPC) – visited Weidong village and set up a “bench-style meeting.” Residents, including the elderly and those with disabilities, gathered to voice their concerns about inadequate accessibility.
Amid the conversation, Wu offered a straightforward proposal: “I hope rural accessible facilities can be improved to make mobility easier for people with disabilities and the elderly.” His words were relayed verbatim to lawmakers.
The response was swift. On June 28, 2023, at the third session of the 14th NPC Standing Committee, legislators passed a law on building a barrier-free living environment. The law stipulates that improvements”shall align with social and economic development levels, coordinate urban and rural progress, and gradually narrow the gap in infrastructure between urban and rural areas.”
Today, Wu observes that the village’s main roads and public squares have been upgraded with accessibility features that make getting around considerably easier.
This episode illustrates what Chinese officials call “whole-process people’s democracy” – a system where citizen input is woven into every stage of policy development.
Jilie Ziri, head of Abuluoha village in Butuo county, southwest China’s Sichuan province, remarked that for young generations in China, democracy has become a lived experience. “Villagers are the masters of village affairs,” he said, emphasizing how active villager participation has injected new vitality into local governance.
Experts point to consultative democracy as a cornerstone of this process. Tao Kaiyuan, vice chairman of the Central Committee of the China Association for Promoting Democracy and vice president of the Supreme People’s Court, underscores the important role of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, whose members hail from every stratum of society and bring a wealth of expertise and connections.
Their regular forums, field research, and public consultations have created robust channels for citizens to contribute ideas and forge consensus.”This approach gathers collective wisdom and transforms public voices into policy,” Tao said.
Another crucial manifestation is the effectiveness of China’s political party system. Under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, Chinese democratic parties actively fulfill their duties, offering recommendations that often translate into concrete policy decisions. This integrated approach demonstrates the unique strengths of China’s political system and the advantages of whole-process people’s democracy.
Tao emphasized that whole-process people’s democracyhas evolved into an efficient and dynamic democratic practice – one that not only reflects the essence of socialist democracy but also presents a pioneering model of political civilization, contributing Chinese wisdom and solutions to global governance and democratic development.
-
Foreign12 hours ago
Judge blocks Trump from deporting non-citizens using wartime law
-
News13 hours ago
Obasanjo bemoans selection process of traditional rulers in Nigeria
-
News12 hours ago
SERAP sues Akpabio over ‘failure to reverse unlawful suspension of Natasha Akpoti’
-
Metro13 hours ago
4 abducted victims rescued as police neutralise wanted kidnap kingpin
-
News13 hours ago
Market associations, women groups knock el-Rufai, rally support for Tinubu, Gov Sani