New York, July 17, 2018.During his address at the General Debate of the United Nations High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, the Cuban Minister of Foreign Trade and Investment, Rodrigo Malmierca, denounced that the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the US Government against Cuba for almost sixty years is depriving the Cuban people and constitutes the main obstacle to the country's economic development and consequently, for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.
However, he added, the country has a mechanism for implementing the National Economic and Social Development Plan until 2030, the priorities of which are aligned and, in some cases, more ambitious than those included in the 2030 Agenda.
The senior official described that due to its geographic location, Cuba is highly vulnerable to climate change. At the same time, he noted that achieving prosperous and sustainable development with the human being at its center is a priority for the Cuban government and has been incorporated in Cuban policies at all levels.
He also stressed that internationalism, humanism and solidarity are fundamental pillars of Cuba's foreign policy, as evidenced by the cooperation programs in 157 countries in areas such as health, education, sport and other specialties, and by the more than 65,000 health workers who are currently providing services in 65 countries.
Malmierca seized the opportunity to reaffirm that Cuba will continue to share its limited resources through international cooperation and reiterated the full commitment of the Caribbean island to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and to the search for a more just, equitable, inclusive and resilient world.
Permanent Mission of Cuba to the United Nations.