Daren Tang, a Singaporean candidate for the office of director-general of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), won the last round of votes on Wednesday. 

As a United Nations specialized agency, WIPO has the authority to shape global rules of intellectual property and overseas patents. 

Tang was selected by representatives from more than 80 countries. The slate originally comprised 10 candidates and the last round saw the run-off between Tang and Wang Bingying from China, with Tang prevailing with 55 votes to 28. 

Tang is slated to assume the office at the end of September and will serve a six-year term. 

"This is the first time a Singaporean has been nominated for the leadership position of a UN agency," said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong as he congratulated Tang in a post on Facebook.

(Cover image: The headquarter of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) is pictured in Geneva, Switzerland, March 3, 2020. /Reuters)