It began with a two-day meeting of senior officials, with a focus on renewal, growth and development, in which WIPO member countries’ intellectual property and experiences play a key role.

In his opening speech, the WIPO’s General Director Fransi Guri emphasised that renewal is a decisive factor in developing economies and creating jobs, as well as increasing the competitiveness of countries, industrial sectors and private enterprises. A renewal process always requires intellectual property, he noted.

According to Mr Guri, apart from new technologies, the knowledge of organising, marketing and planning is also key to success. To deal with challenges, he said, the WIPO needs to play a vital role in developing the global infrastructure.

On behalf of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Vietnamese Deputy Minister Quan stated that creativeness, renewal and sustainable development play an important part in the world economy nowadays. Competitive advantages, economic growth and social progress are based on new knowledge and professional skills.

He confirmed that ASEAN has actively taken part in all the activities launched by WIPO and the Association aims to build a regional economic community by 2015, to turn ASEAN into a market with no borders.

Mr Quan also highlighted ASEAN’s achievements in enforcing intellectual property rights from 2004-2010 to promote trade and ensure intellectual property.

The delegates from WIPO member countries will also share their experiences in building strategies and national priorities on intellectual property, and plan the WIPO’s future activities.