The head of Cuban diplomacy noted that participants include dozens of heads of State and Government, as well as leaders of international organizations, including UN Secretary-General António Guterres.

Rodríguez added that more than 90 member States have already signed up for the list of speakers at the event, which will take place at Havana’s International Conference Center, as a demonstration of the interest aroused by this Summit, which will focus on “Current Development Challenges: Role of Science, Technology and Innovation.”

This main theme, he noted, is of great relevance for the 134 members of the G77+China, and will foster a high-level, substantial debate, with forceful statements on the most pressing political and economic issues for developing nations amid the international systemic crisis we are going through.

The Summit seeks to debate the main challenges and core issues of the southern nations, noted the Foreign Minister, who predicted a widely participatory event, with the attendance of high-level delegations who will be welcomed with the greatest hospitality by the Cuban people.

In that regard, Rodriguez Parrilla noted that the Cubans will welcome the visitors with their proverbial affection and great level of information on the international situation, while they will follow the event minute by minute through local media and social networks.

He noted that the organization of this event required a great effort due to the difficult conditions of Cuba’s economy as a result of the intensification of the blockade imposed by the United States for more than 60 years, the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and other impacts from the global economic and social crisis.

In January Cuba assumed the pro tempore presidency of the G77+China, which represents 80 percent of the world’s population and more than two-thirds of the members of the United Nations, and since then, Cuba has developed an intense agenda to put the vision defended by the group into practice.

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