G77+China Summit Calls for Technology, Climate Change, and Economic Reform

The recent G77+China Summit held in Havana, Cuba, highlighted the importance of technology for development, the impacts of climate change, and called for a reform of the international economic system. The summit, attended heads of state from Latin America, Africa, and Asia, along with diplomats and delegations from over 100 countries, is the largest event of countries from the Global South within the United Nations (UN).

The final declaration of the summit emphasized the urgent need for a comprehensive reform of the international financial architecture and a more inclusive and coordinated approach to global financial governance. Developing countries stressed the importance of increasing their representation in global decision-making and policy-making bodies to enhance their access and development of science, technology, and innovation.

The declaration also criticized “digital monopolies” and “unfair practices” that hinder the technological development of developing countries. It condemned sanctions and coercive economic actions imposed on developing countries, stating that such actions not only undermine the principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter and international law, but also impede the advancement of science, technology, and innovation, as well as economic and social development.

During the summit, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel highlighted the aim of seeking common positions among countries in the Global South to take their demands to other international forums. UN Secretary-General António Guterres pointed out that the current global systems and structures have failed the countries of the Global South.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva criticized the sanctions imposed the United States against Cuba and called for a reformulation of the global governance system.

The opening speeches at the summit emphasized the importance of the G77 and China group, which currently has 134 members and represents two-thirds of the UN’s members and 80% of the world’s population. The summit aimed to coordinate joint actions between countries of the Global South to change the rules of the international system and achieve a democratization of international relations.

The summit also addressed issues such as the international patent system, military spending, and the need for resources to be used for improving the living conditions of the majority. It recognized that many current global institutions need to be updated to better serve the needs of developing countries.

The G77+China Summit served as a platform for countries in the Global South to come together, discuss common challenges, and propose solutions for a more equitable and sustainable future.

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