Tunis — Tunisia is currently taking part in the 4th edition of the World Science Forum, the international conference series on global science policy, under the theme "Knowledge and Future" which runs from November 5 to 7, 2009 in Budapest, Hungary.

Organized by the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, in partnership with UNESCO, the forum aims at promoting the need for science and scientific advice in political and economic decision-making. It also aims at fastering better scientific communication among world societies.

Scientists, policy-makers, non-governmental organizations, educational institutions and research bodies, leaders of culture and industry, science and education ministers of the G77 countries are taking part in the event.

Chairing the G77 annual ministerial meeting, Mr. Lazhar Bououni Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Technology, delivered an address in which he stressed the guidelines of the Tunisian policy in terms of scientific and technological research and achievements made in science in the past two decades.

In this regard, he emphasized the political choices and strategic decisions of the President Ben Ali in placing research and technology on top of national priorities.