Remarks by Ambassador Pedro L- Pedroso Cuesta, on belhaf og G-77 and China, at United Nations General Assembly to introduce draf resolution on the International Day of Science, Technology and Innovation for the South (A/78/L.34)
New York, January 9th, 2024.
Mr. President,
Today's struggle to achieve sustainable development is a fight on which not only our survival, but also that of the planet, are dependent.
However, for most developing countries, achieving sustainable development is an increasingly elusive endeavor in a world marked by polarizing economic, social and environmental inequality, and where indifference to the recurrent non-compliance with multilaterally agreed development assistance commitments demonstrates the gap between reality and the common political rhetoric in international fora.
Nonetheless, the G77 and China will continue to strive for a world that works for all, as stated by the Secretary-General at the Summit on "Current Development Challenges: The Role of Science, Technology and Innovation", held in Havana in September 2023. Precisely at this Summit, the Heads of State of the G77 member countries agreed to propose September 16 as the International Day of Science, Technology and Innovation for the South, an initiative that we now submit to this august Assembly for its consideration.
Science, technology and innovation are becoming increasingly important and beneficial in all areas of human life, which can only be accessible to the Global South through the democratization of knowledge, the development of its own investigative capacities, access to financing and the transfer of technologies that accelerate the achievement of the SDGs.
The draft resolution contained in document A/78/L.34 highlights the key role of scientific and technical advances in economic growth and sustainable development, through the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda, the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, and the political declaration on the SDGs. It also refers to the Summit on Science, Technology and Innovation of the Group of 77 and China, held in Havana, and its Political Declaration, in an effort to boost cooperation in this area.
It also addresses the existing disparities between developed and developing countries in terms of conditions, possibilities and capacities to produce new science, technology and innovation knowledge, where the support of the international community, North-South cooperation and other complementary forms of cooperation such as triangular or South-South cooperation are required to increase the capacity of developing countries. In this sense, the text promotes the need to create an open, inclusive and non-discriminatory environment that supports the efforts of the Global South to develop and strengthen their national science, technology and innovation systems.
The draft resolution therefore invites all Member States of the United Nations, members of the specialized agencies and observers in the General Assembly, as well as organizations of the United Nations system, other international and regional organizations, academia, civil society, the private sector and other relevant stakeholders, through the support of the Secretary-General, to celebrate the International Day of Science, Technology and Innovation for the South by bringing forward initiatives and cooperation projects that strengthen the science, technology and innovation systems of developing countries.
We would like to express the Group's appreciation for the support extended by United Nations Member States for our efforts during the consultations on the draft resolution. The Group of 77 and China looks forward to the support of the Assembly for this important draft resolution.
Proclaiming September 16 as International Science, Technology and Innovation Day for the South is an important step to recognize, every year, that we must fulfill the promise to leave no one behind, and that the development of science, technology and innovation is also a fundamental leverage for the fulfillment of the SDGs and for building a more equitable and participatory world, including from scientific and technological platforms, a world that is both possible and necessary.
Thank you very much