Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez said today that cooperation within the China-Celac Forum is deeply relevant in a complex global scenario, «marked by the United States’ attempts to reconfigure the international system».

This was stated by the diplomatic chief when representing the largest of the Antilles at the IV Ministerial Meeting of the China-Celac Forum (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States).

Rodríguez rejected the attempts by the United States to reconfigure the international system based on pressure, threats and the imposition of tariffs and other punitive tools, which affect global political-trade relations.

On the other hand, he stressed that the China-Celac Forum, created after the II Celac Summit in Havana (2014), has evolved as an effective space for concerting and deepening relations between the two parties.

The Foreign Minister pointed out that this mechanism demonstrated its strategic and practical value in advancing towards common development goals and reflects the benefits of building a community of shared future.

In fact, the head of Cuban diplomacy pointed out that at present most Latin American and Caribbean countries maintain diplomatic relations with Beijing based on mutual respect and collaboration with tangible benefits.

«In contrast, the US 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,» he stressed.

At another point, the minister denounced the impact of the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by Washington against the island, which has been strengthened and escalated to unprecedented levels.

unprecedented levels in recent years, together with «the arbitrary inclusion of our country on the spurious list of alleged state sponsors of terrorism».

Rodríguez recalled that this year Cuba celebrates the 65th anniversary of its diplomatic relations with China, which «have historically been an example of South-South cooperation».

During his speech, he reiterated the island’s support for the «one China» principle and its rejection of any attempt to affect China’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.

He stressed that bilateral relations are based on mutual respect, sovereign equality and complementarity.

Joint achievements include projects in biotechnology, renewable energy and academic training of Cuban professionals in Chinese universities, which has strengthened national capacities, he added.

The foreign minister took the opportunity to recognise the Chinese government’s initiatives,

especially those of the Belt and Road and for Global Development and the China-Celac Cooperation Plan (2022-2024), which have enabled projects with a high socio-economic impact in the region.

He urged the transformation of words into concrete actions, accessible financing and agile cooperation mechanisms.

«Let us build together a fairer and more equitable world, where the development aspirations of our nations are not a chimera, but a right realised and evidenced in the prosperity of our peoples,» concluded the head of diplomacy.

The IV Ministerial Meeting of the China-Celac Forum brought together in Beijing foreign ministers and other high-level representatives of the region, as well as the presidents of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Colombia, Gustavo Petro, and Chile, Gabriel Boric.