The 58th Series of Meetings of the Assemblies of the Member States of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) opened in Geneva, Switzerland, on September 24 under their chairmanship of Ambassador Duong Chi Dung, head of Vietnam’s permanent mission to the United Nations, the World Trade Organisation and other international organisations in Geneva.

The delegates held a minute’s silence to remember Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang, who passed away on September 21 in Hanoi. Ambassador Duong Chi Dung expressed thanks to international friends for their condolences over the passing away of President Tran Dai Quang. The 58th series of meetings attracted about 1,200 delegates from 191 WIPO member states. The Vietnamese delegation is led by Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Pham Cong Tac. The event, scheduled to last through October 2, will look into the proposed measures, convene high-level negotiations on the making of IP law, copyright and related rights, patents for inventions, trademarks, industrial design and geographical indications, among others. Deputy Minister Tac said the Vietnamese delegation will take an active part in the activities of the WIPO General Assembly. This is also a chance for the country to enhance bilateral cooperation on IP through organising meetings and working sessions with other countries and WIPO.-VNA