Claims of intellectual property thefts and unprotected rights have been a thorny issue in China-US trade conflicts. As Chinese authorities announce a NEW mechanism to help settle overseas IPR disputes Wednesday, it also points to new evidence that China's IPR protection has facilitated a welcome business environment for both domestic and foreign enterprises. CGTN's Sun Ye reports.

China now has a national center to help Chinese companies to navigate unfamiliar, foreign ground, when it comes to different IPR requirements.

ZHANG ZHICHENG DEPT. OF IPR PROTECTION, NATIONAL INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ADMINISTRATION "The National Center for overseas IPR disputes will work on facilitating international cooperation in IPR protection. It will also help China's 'going-out' companies to understand and observe other countries' IPR laws and rules when they operate overseas. It will help companies understand their obligations and rights in overseas business environments."

The administration calls for better IPR protection on the home front too. It cites an over 8 percent rise in patent applications and an over 15 percent increase in foreign companies' trademark applications in China, in the first 6 months of 2019 alone. Calling it a show of strong confidence in the country.

ZHAO GANG, VICE DIRECTOR NATIONAL INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ADMINISTRATION "The state of intellectual property rights protection has everything to do with the state of trade and business environment. Trade and investment could only take place where IPR are well-protected. So judging from China's recent performance in IPR protection, we have a good business environment that's attractive to enterprises, including foreign-invested ones. And they are confident in China's business environment."

The World Intellectual Property Organization has also rolled out its 2018 Global Innovation Index, putting China, for the first time in Top 20. It rose in the index from No.22 to No.17. SUN YE, CGTN, BJ.