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The Singaporean set to head the United Nations agency overseeing intellectual property issues says his focus will be to “call out” unilateral behaviour as more countries display protectionist tendencies and the US-China feud deepens.
Daren Tang Heng Shim, 48, who was earlier this month appointed to the role after he beat China’s Wang Binying in a vote, said the World Intellectual Property Organisation (Wipo) would continue to be “neutral and professional” in its efforts to safeguard global intellectual property and patents.
He rejected the suggestion that his appointment – something the United States had lobbied for to push back against China’s efforts to gain influence in international bodies – would raise questions about his independence.
“The election results speak for themselves. It wasn’t a candidacy that was backed by one part of the world or a region,” Tang said, pointing to how the 55 votes he received against Wang’s 28 came from a mix of developed and developing countries.
“We made it clear that we are going to bring that Singapore ability to build bridges and that’s what’s needed at Wipo,” he told in an interview.
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