(Prensa Latina) — Today, H.E. Ernesto Soberón Guzmán, Permanent Representative to the United Nations, said that Cuba will continue to promote scientific and technological cooperation based on solidarity, mutual respect, and the sovereignty of our peoples.
Soberón participated in the 22nd session of the United Nations High-Level Committee on South-South Cooperation, where he stated that structural inequalities, the digital divide, and a lack of financing continue to hinder progress.
In this context, he added, "South-South Cooperation is a strategic complement to advance from our own strengths. South-South Cooperation as a driving force for transformation."
He stated that accelerating the 2030 Agenda requires more than just political will; it also requires a shift in how we share knowledge and collaborate.
He emphasized that science, technology, and innovation have the power to transform our societies and, in this sense, he reaffirmed the central message of the Havana Declaration, adopted at the G77 and China Summit in 2023.
"Only through strengthened cooperation in these areas will we be able to move toward truly sustainable and inclusive development," he said.
He also emphasized the importance of harnessing science, technology, and innovation through South-South Cooperation as a means of building scientific sovereignty. However, he pointed out that this cannot replace the historical commitments of North-South cooperation.
He said that providing means of implementation to developing countries, particularly technology transfers, is fundamental to bridge the digital divide.
He reflected that the world is at a critical juncture, with more than 80 percent of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) out of reach.
Despite severe economic limitations exacerbated by the economic, commercial, and financial blockade imposed by the U.S. government on Cuba, the diplomat recalled that the country has made significant progress in biotechnology, public health, and the training of highly qualified human resources. Cuba has shared this progress in solidarity with other countries of the South.
Ambassador Soberón said that we must invest more in innovation and development, promote regional innovation centers, and create capacities in new technologies through training programs and research networks that generate solutions adapted to national realities.
He stressed that this also requires changes in the international financial architecture to ensure greater liquidity so that developing countries can invest in these areas.