G77+China summit concludes in Cuba with calls to end US blockades

By Laura Gamba

BOGOTA, Colombia (AA) - The G77+China summit in Havana, Cuba concluded over the weekend with a joint declaration involving 116 countries that committed to strengthening cooperation among the nations of the Global South and demanded the removal of US blockades on Cuba and other countries.

"We reject the imposition of laws and regulations with extraterritorial impact and all other forms of coercive economic measures, including unilateral sanctions against developing countries, and reiterate the urgent need to eliminate them immediately," said the joint declaration.

In the 46-article seven-page final declaration, the participating countries also criticized the existing “unfair” global economic order.

"We underline the urgent need for comprehensive reform of the international financial architecture and a more inclusive and coordinated approach to global financial governance,” it said.

It said this approach would include greater representation of developing countries in global decision-making and policy-making bodies.

The declaration further called for an end to "technological monopolies" and urged the promotion of technology transfer to achieve "scientific and technological development that benefits all." It also stressed the importance of “eradicating poverty in all its dimensions.”

The summit was attended by 1,300 representatives from 116 countries and 12 multilateral entities, including 31 heads of state and numerous ministers, all convened within the United Nations framework.

Argentina's President Alberto Fernandez, Colombian President Gustavo Petro and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, along with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, were among the attendees.

Guterres opened the event on Friday with a speech saying that "the world is failing developing countries."

The summit concluded with remarks from Cuban Prime Minister Manuel Marrero, who spoke of the success of the meeting and officially brought it to a close.

Organizing the event was a significant logistical and economic challenge for the island, which is in the midst of profound economic and political difficulties that have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.