Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Quan is attending at the 47th session of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) General Assembly in Switzerland from September 22 to October 2.

This is an annual meeting of the WIPO General Assembly but this is the first time the session has invited ministerial delegates. Some 47 member states have sent ministers and deputy ministers in charge of intellectual property to the meeting.

Vietnam has been elected to the WIPO coordination committee, the second time in 26 years.

Deputy Minister Nguyen Quan said that in joining the WIPO coordinating committee, Vietnam would have opportunities to take part in defining the development of WIPO and to serve developing countries in the world.

WIPO was established in July 1967 to “encourage creative activity and to promote the protection of intellectual property throughout the world”.

It became a specialised agency of the United Nations in 1974. WIPO is based in Geneva, Switzerland, with 184 member states at present. Vietnam joined WIPO in 1976.