Hosting the 72nd AWGIPC Meeting and related events aimed to fulfill Viet Nam’s obligation as a member state of ASEAN in intellectual property (IP) cooperation. Thereby, Viet Nam demonstrated its role as the host country in organizing regional-level events, helping to enhance Viet Nam's image and position among ASEAN and its dialogue partners.

Vice Chairman of the Da Nang People's Committee Tran Chi Cuong delivered the welcome remarks at the 72nd AWGIPC Meeting

Director General of IP Viet Nam Luu Hoang Long gave an opening speech at the Opening Ceremorny of the 72nd AWGIPC Meeting

Chairman of AWGIPC Xaysomphet Norasingh spoke at the Opening Ceremorny of the 72nd AWGIPC Meeting

At the 72nd AWGIPC Meeting, ASEAN member states continued to review and discuss the implementation of ASEAN IPRs Action Plan 2016-2025 and cooperation activities between ASEAN and its dialogue partners (AANZFTA, World IP Organization (WIPO), European Patent Office (EPO), European IP Office (EUIPO), Japan Patent Office (JPO), etc.); Study on the scope of ASEAN IP Rights Action Plan post 2025 and upgrading the ASEAN Framework Agreement on IP Cooperation; had meetings with new dialogue partners (French Institute of Industrial Property (INPI), International Olympic Committee (IOC)) who attended the AWGIPC Meeting for the first time to discuss cooperation areas in the coming time.

Overview of the 72nd AWGIPC Meeting

In the margin of the 72nd AWGIPC Meeting, the 15th Meeting of the IP Subcommittee of the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA) was held on 25 April 2024. The Meeting discussed and exchanged information on domestic changes in relation to copyright (Chapter 13, Article 5 of AANZFTA) and accession to international IP treaties (Chapter 13, Article 9.7 of AANZFTA) and implementation of projects approved by the Economic Cooperation Budget Subcommittee of AANZFTA.

On the occasion of the World IP Day 2024, IP Viet Nam, in collaboration with WIPO Singapore Office, the People's Committee and Department of Science and Technology of Thua Thien Hue province and Phu Xuan University, organized the Ceremony to celebrate the World IP Day 2024 and launched the Contest on Central Region Students’ Green Creativity on 26 April, 2024 at Phu Xuan University Campus in Hue City.

Ceremony to celebrate the World IP Day 2024 at Phu Xuan University Campus

From the left to right, Leadership of WIPO Singapore Office, IP Viet Nam, People’s Committee of Thua Thien Hue Province and Phu Xuan University launching the Contest on Central Region Students’ Green Creativity  

Delegates took souvenir photos at Phu Xuan University Campus

In addition to above events, IP Viet Nam hosted bilateral meetings with EPO, INPI, IP Office of Singapore (IPOS), WIPO, etc., on the occasion of these partners attending the 72nd AWGIPC Meeting during the week of 22 to 25 April, 2024.

At the bilateral meeting with INPI, leadership of two Offices celebrated the 30th anniversary of establishment of bilateral cooperation (1994-2024); exchanged the latest developments of each Offices; dicussed cooperation orientation in the coming time; signed the Work Plan 2024-2025 under the MoU singed in 2023, in which prioritizes activities in supporting business, training officials, disseminating IP Law and issues associated with emerging technologies.

Director General of IP Viet Nam Luu Hoang Long and Director General of INPI Pascal Faure signed the Work Plan 2024-2025

At the bilateral meeting with IPOS, Director General of IP Viet Nam and Chief Executive of IPOS discussed cooperation activities in the coming period, especially cooperation activities under the Program on Collaborative Searching and Examining (CS&E) to  accelerate  patent registration process, contributing to facilitating trade and investment relations between two countries.

Bilateral Meeting between IP Viet Nam and IPOS

IP Viet Nam also held meeting with WIPO to discuss cooperation activities in the years to comes, plans to implement technical assistance projects, focusing on projects targeting beneficiaries who are businesses such as “IP Management Clinic”, “IP Diagnostics”; project on Effective SME Intermediary Program; etc.; exchanged other topics that recently attract attention such as IP and realization of 2050 net zero goal, IP and artificial intelligence, protection of IPRs of Vietnamese individuals and businesses abroad or IP financing.

Bilateral Meeting between IP Viet Nam and WIPO

At the technical meeting with EPO, two Offices shared their respective priorities and considered the possibility to sign an MoU on Reinforced Partnership in the future; EPO also introduced the ANSERA-based SEARCH and Validation.

Deputy Director General of IP Viet Nam Tran Le Hong and Principal Advisor to the EPO President Mariana Karepova took souvenir photos at the Meeting

It is said that the 72nd AWGIPC Meeting and related events were successfully hosted by IP Viet Nam. The Meeting and related events commenced on schedule and achieved goals set before, promoting IP cooperation in ASEAN, between ASEAN and its dialogue partners, making a good impression on ASEAN member states and ASEAN dialogue partners./.