Developing countries double down on technology at Havana summit

Developing Nations Declare “Day of Science, Technology and Innovation in the South”

HAVANA, Sept 16 (Reuters) – Developing nations on Saturday declared Sept. 16 the annual “Day of Science, Technology and Innovation in the South” as they prepared to wrap up a two-day summit on the subject.

Addressing Disparities in Scientific and Technological Knowledge

The final declaration of the G77 group of developing nations and China emphasized the existing disparities between developed and developing countries in terms of conditions, possibilities, and capacities to produce new scientific and technological knowledge.

• “We note with deep concern the existing disparities between developed and developing countries in terms of conditions, possibilities and capacities to produce new scientific and technological knowledge,” the final declaration of the G77 group of developing nations and China said.

Call for Support from International Community

The G77 group, which now counts 134 countries, called upon the international community, the United Nations System, and the International Financial Institutions to support the efforts of the countries of the South to develop and strengthen their national science, technology, and innovation systems.

• “We call upon the international community, the United Nations System and the International Financial Institutions to support the efforts of the countries of the South to develop and strengthen their national science, technology and innovation systems,” the organization stated.

Highlighting the Impact of the Pandemic

The statement cited the pandemic and unequal distribution of vaccines as an example, pointing out that all but Cuba’s were developed outside the block and rich nations were disproportionately vaccinated.

China’s Role in the G77

China maintains that it is not a G77 member, despite being listed as one by the bloc, but Beijing says it has supported the group’s legitimate claims and maintained cooperative relations.

Imbalance in Advanced Digital Production Technologies

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel highlighted the concentration of the creation and dissemination of advanced digital production technologies worldwide, with minor activity in most emerging economies.

• “Creation and dissemination of advanced digital production technologies worldwide remain concentrated, with minor activity in most of the emerging economies,” he said.

Call for Action and Cooperation

The G77, which is the largest within the United Nations by population and number of members, called for a special meeting to tackle the issues raised at the summit. The final declaration reiterates long-standing demands for a more equitable international economic and social order, emphasizing the need to end developed country technological domination.

• The 46-point final declaration reiterates long-standing demands for a more equitable international economic and social order which it states is impossible without ending developed country technological domination.

At the same time, it calls for more cooperation between member nations in science, technology, and innovation as strategies for their development.

Promoting Sustainable Industrialization and Renewable Energy

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva emphasized the need to promote sustainable industrialization, investment in renewable energy, bioeconomy, and low-carbon agriculture. He also highlighted that developing countries do not have the same historical debt as rich countries for global warming.

Conclusion

While more than 100 member delegations participated in the summit, only Brazil and a few dozen others were led by heads of state.

reuters.com

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