China leads world in AI and 6G patents

China has emerged as the leading holder of artificial intelligence patents, responsible for 60 percent of the global total.

The country also leads in next-generation 6G patent applications, accounting for 40.3 percent of worldwide filings. The insights were presented in reports at the 2025 World Internet Conference held from November 7-9 in Wuzhen, Zhejiang Province.The conference showcased China’s technological advancements, highlighting participation from over 1,600 delegates across 130 nations.

As of June 2025, China has established 4.55 million 5G base stations, with 1.12 billion 5G mobile phone users.

The nation’s computing power has reached 788 EFLOPS, boasting 10.85 million standard racks in operation, ranking among the world’s top infrastructures. Projections estimate that China’s 6G industry will soar to 1.2 trillion yuan by 2030, with industrial applications making up 40 percent and smart cities at 30 percent.

The quantum computing sector is expected to reach 11.56 billion yuan in 2025, with growth rates surpassing 30 percent.

Market Leadership

China continues to hold the title of the largest e-commerce market globally for the 12th consecutive year, with 974 million online shoppers recorded by December 2024.

Online retail sales reflected a 7.2 percent increase. JD.com’s founder announced plans for an unmanned delivery station by April 2026, while Alibaba is developing a “super AI cloud” for global developers.