G77 and China Summit: South-South Cooperation is a Fundamental Pillar

SGGP 09/15/2023 06:26

On September 15 and 16, the G77 and China Summit with the theme "Current Development Challenges: The Role of Science , Technology and Innovation" will take place in Havana (Cuba).

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez at the conference briefing. Photo: Prensa Latina

Enhancing the role of the G77

According to the newspaper Prensa Latina, since January this year, Cuba has held the rotating presidency of the G77 and China, a group that advocates for the interests of developing countries at the United Nations (UN). The group currently has 134 member countries, about 70% of which are UN members.

The Cuban government considers the G77-China Summit an opportunity to strengthen solidarity and decide on important and practical issues to deal with current challenges. Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez said that about 30 heads of state and government, the UN Secretary General and 10 prestigious international and regional organizations will attend the conference. According to VNA, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha attended the conference and visited and worked in Cuba from September 14 to 18.

At the conference, leaders of member countries will focus on analyzing and assessing the international situation, advantages and challenges for developing countries. From there, they will unify the direction and measures to enhance the voice and role of G77 in international political and economic life. Along with that is the process of reforming global governance towards the goal of building a stable and fair international order, while promoting cooperation between developing and developed countries; improving the effectiveness of cooperation, especially in science - technology, innovation, knowledge use and scientific - technological development and innovation to respond to development challenges. South - South cooperation is the fundamental pillar of the conference.

Towards a new economic order

The conference is expected to adopt a joint statement outlining the group's goals and principles, as well as addressing the needs of developing countries, calling for narrowing the development gap in science and technology between developed and developing countries; and promoting international cooperation in these areas, taking advantage of experience exchange, capacity building and technology transfer to benefit developing countries.

Cuban Foreign Minister Rodriguez affirmed that the final statement of the conference will be a general and important outline of the main obstacles to the development of the countries of the South and call for the establishment of a new international economic order. The joint statement of the conference is faithful to the purposes and principles of the group, takes into account the needs of developing countries and is closely linked to the claim of the right to development in an international context of increasing monopoly, inequality, injustice and exploitation. This is a central issue that is very relevant to the 134 members of the G77 and China.

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