China’s international patent applications grew to 25,500 cases in 2014, up 18.7 percent year-on-year, according to a report released by the country’s intellectual property watchdog on June 4.

The Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), an international patent law treaty, is a major channel for Chinese applicants to seek international recognition.

High application fees are considered to be the top concern for most Chinese PCT applicants, while unfamiliarity with foreign laws and application procedure also hampered their patent internationalization efforts, according to the annual report released by the State Intellectual Property Office.

Chinese PCT applicants called for lower application cost, streamlined procedures and quicker access to patent approval, the report said.