Cuban President Díaz-Canel calls for ‘democratization’ of international relations

Havana, Sept 15 (EFE).- The host of the summit of the Group of 77 and China, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel, on Friday called for the “democratization” of international relations, including within the United Nations, as a way to address the needs of the global South.

During his inaugural speech, the island leader stressed the importance of the group, which currently includes 134 nations, in a context of “multidimensional crisis” in the world.

Díaz-Canel stressed the need to “change the rules of the game” in favor of developing countries, which he said are the “main victims” of the “unequal exchange” of international trade and finance, as well as a “scientific gap” and the climate crisis.

The President also said that the current “international order” is “unjust and unsustainable” and that without addressing “these issues” it will not be possible to “achieve the sustainable development” to which the G77+China countries have a “right.”

As an example, the island leader cited the “shortages” that the delegations in attendance may encounter on the island due to “six decades” of “blockade,” in reference to the US sanctions against Cuba.

For Díaz-Canel, these sanctions are part of a “tightened siege” resulting from an “unjust international order” in which Cuba is “not the only one” to suffer.

“We lack many things, but we have feelings of friendship, solidarity and fraternity to spare,” said the president of the host country.

The G77+China is the largest forum for cooperation and dialogue under the UN, bringing together all of Latin America and the Caribbean except Mexico, Africa, the Middle East and a large part of Asia, except Russia.

The summit aimed at narrowing the technological gap between North and South is entitled “Today’s Development Challenges: the Role of Science, Technology and Innovation” and will conclude on Saturday.

The event, attended by some thirty heads of state and more than a hundred delegations, is a diplomatic success for Havana, but also an enormous logistical and economic challenge for the island in the midst of a deep multidimensional crisis.

Among the participants are the Secretary General of the United Nations, António Guterres, and presidents such as Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil, Gustavo Petro of Colombia, Alberto Fernández of Argentina and Nicolás Maduro of Venezuela.EFE

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