New York, September 24, 2018. Rodrigo Malmierca, Minister of Foreign Trade and Investment of Cuba, participated in the high-level event "New perspectives on international cooperation for development" organized by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean of the United Nations, ECLAC, co-sponsored by the European Union and the Development Center of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
The event held in the framework of the 73rd session of the UNGA, was attended by the Deputy-Secretary General of the United Nations, Mrs. Amina Mohamed, the Executive Secretary of ECLAC, Mrs. Alicia Bárcena and the Secretary General of the OECD Mr. Ángel Gurría.
The Cuban minister, in his capacity as pro-tempore President of the Commission, took part in the forum, highlighting the deep economic and financial crisis of a systemic nature that humanity is experiencing as a result of the irrational current international economic order, being the countries of the South the ones that suffer the most from its consequences, even though they are not responsible for them.
The Cuban official indicated that the 2030 Development Agenda, as well as the implementation of other agreements and goals adopted, including regional development programs, will not be able to have coherent and tangible results without a true global alliance for development, in which International cooperation for development is a key element in combating the root cause of poverty and preserving the universal right to development.
He recalled that while international public financial flows are insufficient to cover the financing gaps in developing countries, many of the developed nations do not even fulfill their commitments to provide 0.7% of GDP as Official Development Assistance.
He ratified Cuba's commitment to international cooperation, particularly the South-South Cooperation, which is one of the fundamental themes of the island's foreign policy, despite the difficulties facing the Cuban economy, particularly the intensification of the blockade imposed by the United States on the island for almost six decades.
Permanent Mission of Cuba to the United Nations