Overseas firms flock to Chengdu

The total number of invention patent filings was 10,886, up by 46 percent. A total of 26,008 patents came from companies, an increase of 48 percent over 2011.

More than 110,000 trademarks were registered in Chengdu in 2012.

The significant IP achievements have helped the city enhance its capacity for innovation that boosts growth in the local economy.

A story in the newspaper alliance European News Agencies said Chengdu has "the lowest investment risks as well as the best IP protection across the country".

The writer also called on European companies to seize the opportunity to locate their projects in the city for faster growth.

During the past 13 years, Chengdu has been at the forefront of western development in China, and its average annual economic growth rate is the best among all 12 provincial capital cities in central and western areas.

Chengdu's GDP last year reached 813.89 billion yuan, making the inland city the third-largest economy among China's all 15 deputy provincial level cities.

The city's total trade volume with foreign countries reached $47.54 billion in 2012, up 25.5 percent compared with the year before.

Per capita disposable income rose 13.6 percent to 27,194 yuan, greatly outpacing inflation, which was 3 percent last year, according to official figures.