Following discussions, the General Assembly adopts the following decision:

Recalling that the relationship between development and intellectual property has continuously been raised in several multilateral fora; Taking into account the activities carried out by WIPO in the area of development;

Bearing in mind the internationally agreed development goals, including those in the United Nations Millennium Declaration, the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001-2010, the Monterey Consensus, the Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable Development, the Declaration of Principles and the Plan of Action of the first phase of the World Summit on the Information Society and the Sao Paulo Consensus adopted at UNCTAD XI;

(1) The General Assembly welcomes the initiative for a development agenda and notes the proposals contained in document WO/GA/31/11.

(2) The General Assembly decides to convene inter-sessional intergovernmental meetings to examine the proposals contained in document WO/GA/31/11, as well as additional proposals of Member States. To the extent possible, the meetings will be convened in conjunction with the 2005 session of the Permanent Committee on Cooperation for Development Related to Intellectual Property. The meetings, open to all Member States, will prepare a report by July 30, 2005, for the consideration of the next General Assembly. WIPO-accredited IGOs and NGOs are invited to participate as observers in the meetings.

(3) The International Bureau shall undertake immediate arrangements in order to organize with other relevant multilateral organizations, including UNCTAD, WHO and UNIDO, WTO, a joint international seminar on Intellectual Property and Development, open to the participation of all stakeholders, including NGOs, civil society and academia.

(4) The General Assembly decides to include this issue in its September 2005 session.