Mr. President,

China associates itself with the statement by South Africa on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.

This past September, the UN Development Summit unanimously adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which has opened up new prospects, presented new opportunities and defined new goals for global development and international development cooperation. We should strengthen cooperation in order to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development so as to embark on a development path that is equitable, open, comprehensive and innovative and achieve common development. Under these new circumstances, it is necessary to immediately put an end to the economic embargo and sanctions against Cuba.

For 23 consecutive years, the General Assembly has adopted, by overwhelming majority resolutions on the need to end the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba, urging all countries to abide by the Charter of the United Nations and the norms of international law and to repeal or invalidate any laws or measures that are of an extraterritorial nature, that infringe upon the sovereignty of another State or the legitimate rights and interests of the entities and individuals under the jurisdiction of that State, and that have an adverse impact on the freedom of trade and navigation.

It is regrettable that these resolutions have never been effectively implemented and that the American economic, trade and financial embargo against Cuba remains in effect. This has not only violated the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and the relevant General Assembly resolutions but has also inflicted enormous economic and financial losses on Cuba, impeding the efforts of the Cuban people to eliminate poverty, promote economic and social development and achieve the Millennium Development Goals. It has impaired the rights of the Cuban people to survival and development, and adversely affected economic, commercial and financial interactions between Cuba and other countries.

Mr. President,

China has always advocated respect for countries’ right to autonomously choose their social systems and development paths and opposed using military, political, economic, or other means to apply unilateral sanctions against other countries. China has always strictly observed and implemented the relevant UNGA resolutions. China and Cuba have maintained normal economic and trade relations and mutual visits and steadily developed mutually beneficial and friendly cooperation in various areas. This is what the Chinese people and the Cuban people want, and is conducive to the economic and social development of Cuba.

Against the background ofa multi-polar world characterized by economic globalization, cultural diversity, and democratization of international relations, exchanges and cooperation among countries on the basis of equality are the trend of the times. Dialogue on an equal footing and friendly consultations represent the best way to resolve disputes. In July this year, the United States and Cuba decided to restore diplomatic relations, making an important step in the normalization of relations between the two countries. We hope that the United States and Cuba will maintain dialogue and consultation and consolidate the momentum of improvement of relations between the two countries. China has noted that the United States has started to partially lift bans on tourist visits to Cuba as well as bans in the areas of commerce and telecommunication, and that the US intends to push for the ultimate lifting of the trade embargo. We hope that the United States will completely rescind the policy of economic blockade and sanctions against Cuba and that the two sides will develop normal inter-state relations in line with the purposes of the United Nations Charter and the basic principles of international relations. This will be in the common interest of the United States and Cuba as well as the peoples of the two countries and will be conducive to the stability and development of the Americas as well as the common development of the international community. China will once again vote in favor of the draft resolution submitted by Cuba under this agenda item.

Thank you, Mr. President.