2019's World Intellectual Property Day has been hailed a success by Chinese authorities. On Friday, over 20 million US dollars' worth of counterfeit goods linked to IPR infringement were destroyed across six Chinese provinces and autonomous regions. CGTN's Rory Coen takes us to Hubei Province.

Nearly 200 tons of counterfeit goods are destroyed by authorities in China's Hubei Province. Valued at about 800-thousand US dollars, the 15 different item categories range from fake sneakers to bad alcohol and car components, and all are linked to some form of intellectual property right infringement. Representatives from Nike, P&G and other companies victimized by it were invited to witness the destruction.

LU ZHENGMIN, DEPUTY DIRECTOR THE NATIONAL LEADING GROUP ON THE FIGHT AGAINST IPR INFRINGEMENT AND COUNTERFEITING "The destruction shows the determination by the government to protect the rights and interests of companies and customers."

As the popularity of sneakers continues to surge in China, brands like Nike face pressure to fight counterfeit manufacturers. With the rollout of traceable technology like radio frequency identification, or RFID, criminals are finding new ways to perfect their methods. Nevertheless, companies and local authorities aim to stop them.

SHE DUANZHI, VICE PRESIDENT GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC AFFAIRS, GREATER CHINA, NIKE "At Nike, we have a special department dedicated to protecting the brand. It works with law enforcement bodies to ensure our consumers are properly served. We assist them in their investigation and law enforcement."

Experts say counterfeit manufacturing is a global issue. Donations and auctions are often held worldwide to reduce waste while maintaining a healthy market.