1. Receiving and Handling of PCT International Applications

In 2001, SIPO received 1656 international applications, 910 more than the previous year, of which, 1585 used Chinese as the working language and 71 used English. Except the applications withdrawn on the applicants' initiative and those deemed as withdrawn, 110 were related to mechanics, 180 to electronics, 1176 to applied chemistry, 50 to basic chemistry, and 140 to physics and other technical fields. Of all the PCT international applications, 76.75% were service inventions, an indication of a rapid increase of such applications.

2. PCT International Searching

As an International Searching Authority under the PCT, SIPO established searching reports for 1467 international applications and communicated them respectively to the International Bureau of WIPO and the applicants according to the prescribed time limits of the PCT in 2001. In the same year, SIPO conducted international searching for 15 international applications filed by residents of India, which were transferred from the International Bureau.

3. PCT International Preliminary Examination

With regard to the international preliminary examination, SIPO received 682 requests for international preliminary examination and established 333 reports and then communicated to the International Bureau and to the applicants.

4. Establishment of PCT Search Files

With the further perfection of patent documentation database and improvement on searching tools in 2001, the division within SIPO responsible for PCT international searching only established search files for 1 international application according to the PCT minimum documentation requirement.

5. PCT International Applications Entering the Designated and Elected Office

By December 31, 2001, SIPO received 19,031 international applications that designated China and entered into China's national phase, four of which were for utility model and the remainder for patents for inventions.

According to statistics cited in the pamphlets published by WIPO, 103,947 international applications were received by WIPO's International Bureau in 2001, an increase of 14.29% over the previous year. In the same year, 85,948 PCT international applications originating in various countries designated China and were published, accounting for 82.68% of the total international applications.