Cuban summit calls for global multilateralism

China to boost South-South cooperation with G77 nations, senior CPC official says

Multilateralism and international cooperation rather than unilateralism, military or digital monopoly are the right way for the world to proceed, heads of state and government, senior officials and representatives of more than 130 member countries and regions of the Group of 77 and China declared in Havana on Saturday.

The "world-class event" raised the voice of the Global South at the two-day gathering, Cuba's Foreign Ministry said, as the summit agreed to declare Sept 16 as Science, Technology and Innovation Day in the Global South.

"During these days, Cuba has been the capital of the Global South, space of the everlasting hope, home of those who receive the least of global wealth despite having contributed the most," said Cuba's Prime Minister Manuel Marrero, who also thanked attending delegations for their firm support against the six-decade-long embargo on Cuba imposed by the United States.

A final declaration of the summit was approved on Saturday stressing the urgent need for comprehensive reform of the international financial architecture and a more inclusive and coordinated approach to global financial governance.

Li Xi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said on Friday that China is ready to work with G77 members to open a new chapter in South-South cooperation in a quest for greater development through stronger solidarity.

Li, as the special representative of Chinese President Xi Jinping, put forward a three-point proposal in respect of cooperation between the G77 and China, calling on them to stay true to the original aspiration of the G77 for independence and greater collective strength through unity. In addition, he encouraged the advocacy of equity, justice and inclusiveness, and he appealed for the pursuit of development, revitalization and collaboration that benefits all.

"China is the largest developing country in the world. No matter what stage of development it reaches, China will always be part of the developing world and a member of the Global South," he said, stressing that South-South cooperation is always a high priority in China's cooperation with other countries.

Close communication

China will continue to maintain close communication and coordination with G77 members to optimize allocation of development resources, deepen South-South cooperation, ensure efficient use of public goods of the Belt and Road Initiative cooperation, the Global Development Initiative and other initiatives, close the development divide, and resolve problems in development, Li said.

China will host the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing next month.

"We look forward to welcoming you at the forum and to your perspective on future BRI cooperation and the way forward for greater development," Li said.

Cuba's President Miguel Diaz-Canel said on Friday that the G77 and China bloc has the huge responsibility of representing on the international arena the interests of most of the world's nations, and to end an unfair international order dominated by rules for plunder and prejudice.

The G77, founded in the 1960s, sees its membership growing to include most developing and emerging countries.

The United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the voice of the G77 and China will always be essential for the global system.

"We are moving to a multipolar world," he said, calling on the G77 and China to "champion a system rooted in equality; champion a system ready to reverse the injustice and neglect of centuries; and champion a system that delivers for all humanity and not for the privileged".

Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, addressing the summit on Saturday, lamented the US embargo on Cuba. The island "is the victim of an illegal economic embargo", he said. "Brazil is against any unilateral coercive measure."

Lula met Diaz-Canel on Saturday, signaling a revitalization of ties between the two countries in the first trip by a Brazilian president to Cuba in nine years, The Associated Press reported.

"The summit is one more piece in the redefinition of the new world order," said Luis Gonzalez, an international relations expert in the Dominican Republic.

"I believe China is taking one more step in its proposal for a multipolar world and where all together we can build the community of shared destiny for humanity, with protection of the environment."

The next G77 and China Summit is to take place in Kampala, Uganda, in January.

Xinhua contributed to this story.

The writer is a freelance journalist for China Daily.