President Ranil Wickremesinghe embarked on a journey to Cuba this morning, September 13th, where he is set to address the prestigious G77+China Leaders’ Summit.
The summit, centered around the theme “Current Development Challenges: Role of Science, Technology, and Innovation,” is scheduled to unfold in Havana from September 15th to 16th, 2023.
President Wickremesinghe’s participation in this summit has been orchestrated through an official invitation extended by Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel.
On the sidelines of this crucial gathering, President Wickremesinghe has a strategic agenda that includes bilateral discussions with his Cuban counterpart, aimed at fortifying the bonds of cooperation between the two nations.
The G77+China Leaders’ Summit stands as the most extensive intergovernmental coalition, uniting 134 developing nations, as formally recognized by the United Nations. This influential platform empowers Southern nations to advocate for and advance their common economic interests, bolstering their collective negotiation capabilities.
At the core of this conference lies the opportunity to address pressing challenges in the domains of science, technology, and innovation, with a particular emphasis on fostering inter-Southern collaboration to unearth cooperative solutions.
Anticipated as a hallmark of the summit, the leaders of these nations are expected to adopt the ‘Havana Declaration.’ This pivotal document will chart the course for reforms and innovative approaches, with the ultimate aim of enriching cooperation among Southern countries in the dynamic realms of science, technology, and innovation.
Accompanying the President on this significant diplomatic mission is Ms. Aruni Wijewardena, Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, along with a distinguished delegation of senior officials hailing from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
