“Scientific and technological breakthroughs are a mandatory pathway to look to the future with optimism,” he stressed while pointing out the pressing need to strengthen South-South cooperation mechanisms.

The same technology that marked the progress and globalized the world is not a magic or automatic solution; it demands a refined work of serious and lasting research of our common future.

Times marked by profound health, security and peace problems demand quick, intelligent and effective responses from our countries, Figueiredo stated, while stressing that the main theme chosen for this Summit could not be more timely, because the development challenges are closely linked to science, technology and innovation.

In this regard, he said that our countries are called upon to increasingly invest in these cutting-edge areas in order to benefit new generations, since education and training young people is paramount for our nations´ progress.

“I hope commitments made in Havana will contribute to reducing the technological and scientific gap between North and South,” Figueiredo concluded.

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