The World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) General Assembly opened its 59th session in Geneva, Switzerland, on September 30, drawing over 1,000 delegates from 191 member countries.

Vietnamese delegation at the event  

The Vietnamese delegation was led by Chu Ngoc Anh, Minister of Science and Technology. 

 Ambassador Duong Chi Dung, head of Vietnam’s permanent mission in Geneva chaired the event. This is the second year Dung has been honoured to take the presidency of the WIPO General Assembly.

 On behalf of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Minister Chu Ngoc Anh spoke at the opening ceremony.

 He said the bloc’s economy is projected to expand at 4.9 percent in 2019 despite the sluggish global economic growth and increasing protectionism.

 The flow of foreign direct investment (FDI) into the region rose 5.3 percent to reach 154.7 billion USD in 2018, Anh added.

 ASEAN is stepping up the implementation of innovation initiatives to catch up with the fourth industrial revolution (Industry 4.0), Anh said.

 To support innovation, ASEAN is implementing an action plan on intellectual property in 2016-2025 and has gained remarkable outcomes, he added.

 According to the Minister, ASEAN’s intellectual property system is deeply integrated with the world’s, manifested by the participation in some international treaties administered by WIPO.

 At this year’s meeting, Vietnam submitted a document to join the Hague agreement concerning the international registration of industrial designs.

 Anh also underlined the role of science, technology and innovation in changing growth model and escaping from the middle-income trap for developing countries, including Vietnam.

 Recognising the importance of innovation, the Vietnamese Government has promulgated many policies and measures to increase Vietnam’s global innovation index (GII), he said.

 As a result, Vietnam’s GII has increased steadily in recent years, leaping three places to the 42nd position in 2018, he added.

 In August 2019, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc issued a decision approving the national intellectual property strategy through 2030. Previously in June, the National Assembly passed the law on insurance business and law on intellectual property, according to the Minister.

 On the sidelines of the 59th session of the WIPO General Assembly, Minister Chu Ngoc Anh had a working session with WIPO Director General Francis Gurry. 

 On behalf of the Vietnamese Government, the Minister presented Vietnam’s document to join the Hague agreement to the WIPO Director General.

 With this participation, Vietnam is now a member of all three treaties on international registration for inventions, trademarks and designs administered by WIPO, he said.

 Anh also informed about major policies of the Vietnamese Party and State on science, technology, innovation and intellectual property. 

 The same day, the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology and the National Office of Intellectual Property of Vietnam signed a cooperation agreement on GII and another on intellectual property environment with WIPO.

 The 59th session of the WIPO General Assembly will wrap up on October 9.