LISBON, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- The annual Ibero-American summit opened here Sunday with a focus on ways to encourage the development of science and technology to better tackle the financial crisis and climate change.

    At the opening ceremony in Lisbon, Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates called for economic and social modernization to ensure a quick recovery and steady growth of the world economy.

    He also called for concrete action on climate change and a fair deal at the upcoming UN Copenhagen conference on climate change next month.

    Ibero-American Secretary General Enrique Iglesias urged member countries to shoulder their due shares of responsibility in combating climate change.

    He also urged the member countries to bury their current political rifts, and expressed hope for a quick easing of tension in Honduras.

    After the inauguration, the discussions of the summit, with a theme of "innovation and knowledge," will be held in Estoril, a resort town on Portugal's Atlantic coast.

    The annual Ibero-American summit, which gathers leaders of 22 Spanish- or Portuguese-speaking countries in Latin America and Europe, was first held in Mexico in 1991.