Cuba praises the CELAC-China Forum as a space for concertation

HAVANA, Cuba, May 13 (ACN) The CELAC-China Forum has been enriched over a decade as an effective space for consultation and deepening of relations between China and the region, said Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla, Cuban Foreign Minister.

Speaking at the 4th Ministerial Forum of the mechanism, which took place in Beijing, the foreign minister noted that the mechanism created from the agreements of the 2nd Summit of the Community, in Havana, in 2014, has demonstrated its strategic importance and practical utility to advance development objectives.
Likewise, the possibility and mutual benefits of building together a community for the shared future of humanity have been corroborated, he stressed.

At present, he said, most Latin American and Caribbean countries have established diplomatic ties with the People's Republic of China, based on mutual respect, and maintain cooperative relations, which have been beneficial for the people.

On the topic that focused the debate, “Planning development and revitalization together, building together the China-LAC community of destiny”, Rodriguez Parrilla commented that it could not be more relevant, in a complex global scenario, marked by the pretensions of the United States to reconfigure the international system and political and economic-trade relations on the basis of pressures, blackmail, threats and imposition of tariffs and other punitive and intimidating tools.

He highlighted how, in the particular case of Cuba, Washington has imposed an economic, commercial and financial blockade for more than 60 years, which in recent years has escalated to unprecedented levels, with other measures such as the inclusion of the island in the list of alleged State sponsors of terrorism.
Meanwhile, he said, Havana's relationship with Beijing is an example of what can be done in terms of South-South cooperation.

Cuban foreign minister recalled that his country was the first in Latin America and the Caribbean to establish diplomatic ties with the People's Republic of China, which reached its 65th anniversary this year.

Our bilateral relationship with China is an example of what can be done in terms of South-South cooperation, said the Cuban diplomat, while stressing that this relationship has been based on principles such as mutual respect, sovereign equality, complementarity and solidarity.

This cooperation has allowed the development of joint projects in biotechnology areas, which save lives in Cuba, China and the world; the development of renewable energies, key to our energy sovereignty; the training of Cuban professionals in Chinese universities, strengthening our national capacities, he remarked.

Rodriguez Parrilla acknowledged the efforts of the Government of China, especially its initiatives of the Belt and Road and for Global Development and the CELAC-China Cooperation Plan 2022-2024, which have made it possible to implement projects of high socio-economic impact, in line with the legitimate interests and aspirations of the nations of the South.

He also commented that words must be translated into concrete projects, accessible financing and agile cooperation mechanisms.

In his speech, the head of Cuban diplomacy quoted President Miguel Díaz-Canel, when he said: "China and Latin America and the Caribbean are partners on a common path to development, convinced that unity in diversity is our greatest strength to build a multipolar and fair world.

That road today has a name: community of shared future, and Cuba is ready to travel it together with you, said Rodriguez Parrilla.

Cuban foreign minister urged to build together a fairer and more equitable world, where the development aspirations of nations are not a chimera, but a right evidenced in the welfare of people.

Due to its importance, we transmit below the speech in its entirety:

Your Excellencies, Foreign Ministers and Heads of Delegations:

I thank the Government of the People's Republic of China for the warm welcome and the organization of this important Forum. Our gratitude also goes to Colombia, President Pro Tempore of CELAC, for its leadership and skillful conduct of the preparatory process.

The theme of this debate “Planning together for development and revitalization, building together the China-LAC community of destiny” could not be more relevant, in a complex global scenario, marked by the United States' attempts to reshape the international system and political and economic-trade relations on the basis of pressure, blackmail, threats and the imposition of tariffs and other punitive and intimidating tools.

The CELAC-China Forum, created from the agreements adopted at the 2nd Summit of our Community in Havana in 2014, has been enriched throughout this decade as an effective space for coordination and deepening of relations between China and the region.

It has demonstrated its strategic importance and practical utility in advancing our development objectives and corroborated the possibility and mutual benefits of building together a community of shared future of humanity.

At present, most of the countries of our region have established diplomatic ties with the People's Republic of China, based on mutual respect, and maintain cooperative relations with this friendly country, which have been beneficial to our peoples.

In contrast, the U.S. government promotes trade and tariff wars at the global level, especially against China, and threatens countries that legitimately have economic development projects with Chinese companies.

In the particular case of Cuba, we have been victims for more than 60 years of the genocidal economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States, which in recent years has escalated to unprecedented levels, among other measures, with the arbitrary inclusion of our country in the spurious list of alleged State sponsors of terrorism.

Excellencies:

Cuba is proud to have been the first Latin American and Caribbean country to establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China, which are reaching their 65th anniversary this year.

In multilateral forums we have reiterated our firm rejection of actions aimed at harming the territorial integrity and sovereignty of China and reiterated our unwavering support for the principle of “one China”.

Our bilateral relationship with China is an example of what can be done in terms of South-South cooperation. Based on mutual respect, sovereign equality, complementarity and solidarity, this cooperation has allowed: the development of joint projects in areas of biotechnology, which save lives in Cuba, China and the world; the development of renewable energies, key to our energy sovereignty; the training of Cuban professionals in Chinese universities, strengthening our national capacities.

We take this opportunity to recognize the efforts of the Government of China, especially its Belt and Road and Global Development initiatives and the CELAC-China Cooperation Plan 2022-2024, which have made it possible to implement projects with a high socioeconomic impact, in line with the legitimate interests and aspirations of the nations of the South. We must translate our words into concrete projects, accessible financing and agile cooperation mechanisms.

As our President Miguel Diaz-Canel reflected in this same Forum and I quote: “China and Latin America and the Caribbean are partners on a common path towards development, convinced that unity in diversity is our greatest strength to build a multipolar and fair world”. End of quote.

That road today has a name: community of shared future, and Cuba is ready to travel it together with you. Let us build together a fairer and more equitable world, where the development aspirations of our nations are not a chimera, but a right evidenced in the well-being of our nations.
Thank you very much.