China's valid domestic invention patents reached 4.97 million as of May this year, underscoring the robust innovative capacity of the country's innovators and fostering the growth of new quality productive forces, according to the country's top intellectual property (IP) regulator on Friday.

China is rapidly evolving from a major IP importer to a leading global creator, according to the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA).

Guo Wen, spokesperson for CNIPA, highlighted the agency's efforts to address the real-world needs of innovators by refining patent application evaluation standards, raising application quality, and streamlining examination processes through a demand-driven review system.

"Between January and May, CNIPA processed 84,000 priority patent examinations, fast-tracked 116,000 applications, deferred 9,300 reviews and conducted 13 batches of centralized examinations," Guo said.

"This has resulted in the grant of high-value patents that strengthen industrial competitiveness, safeguard national industrial security, and drive sector-wide upgrades," she said.

To further elevate patent quality, CNIPA has enhanced rapid collaborative protection mechanisms and sharpened service precision. The agency operates 77 national IP protection centers, offering one-stop IP services.