The Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) assists applicants in seeking patent protection internationally for their inventions. By filing one international patent application under the PCT, applicants can simultaneously seek protection for an invention in 148 countries throughout the world.

China has become a member state of the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) since January 1, 1994, and the SIPO has become a PCT receiving office and been appointed as an International Searching Authority and an International Preliminary Examination Authority since the same time. Chinese nationals and residents can file an international application through the CNIPA.