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Statement by Ambassador Zhang Jun at the 75th session of the General Assembly on the Issue of Necessity of Ending the Economic, Commercial and Financial Embargo Imposed by the United States of America against Cuba

2021-06-23 05:47

Mr. President,

China welcomes the presence of Foreign Minister of Cuba, His Excellency Mr. Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla at today's meeting. China associates itself with the statement made by the representative of Guinea on behalf of G77 and China.

At present, the continued ravage of the COVID-19 pandemic around the world is bringing serious shocks to the socio-economic development of all countries and in particular the developing countries, making it all the more difficult to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. All countries should keep in mind a community with a shared future for mankind and join hands in fighting against the pandemic, so as to promote a better recovery for common development. However, some Western powers resorted to abusive unilateral sanctions in violation of international rules and order, thus toxicating international relations. Countries of the world have all the right to adopt countermeasures to resolutely resist and counterattack the unilateral sanctions, so as to effectively safeguard their own legitimate rights and interests.

For 28 consecutive years since 1992, the United Nations General Assembly has adopted the resolution with an overwhelming majority on the necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba, urging all countries to abide by the UN Charter and the norms governing international law, revoke or repeal any form of laws and measures, the extraterritorial effect of which affect the sovereignty of other countries, the legitimate interests of the entities and persons under their jurisdiction, and the freedom of trade and navigation. This represents the just call of the international community, and must be effectively implemented.

I need to emphasize that the unilateral coercive measures imposed by the US against Cuba do not go well with the international trend of peace, development and win-win cooperation. These measures violate the international consensus on the 2030 agenda and harm the rights to survival and development and basic human rights of the peoples of all countries. These measures must be stopped immediately. It is regrettable that the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the US against Cuba, instead of being stalled, has on the contrary, recently been intensified. This has seriously violated the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and relevant GA resolutions, severely restricted the access of the Cuban people to medicine, vaccines and supplies needed for fighting the pandemic. It has also severely hindered the efforts of the Cuban people in achieving sustainable development goals such as poverty eradication, and seriously affected Cuba's normal economic, financial and development cooperation with other Member States.

Mr. President,

China has always advocated for respecting the independent choice of all countries in their social systems and development paths, safeguarding the international order underpinned by international law, defending international fairness and justice, and opposing the use of unilateral coercive measures against other countries by military, political, economic or other means. China and Cuba have always maintained frequent economic, trade and personnel exchanges. Friendly and mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields has been continuously developed. After the outbreak of the pandemic, the Chinese government and relevant businesses and community organizations donated many times anti-epidemic supplies to Cuba to help the Cuban people fight the pandemic.

All the countries in the world are a community with a shared future. Dialogue on an equal footing and friendly consultation is the best way of addressing differences. Unilateralism, protectionism and bullying will ultimately backfire. China urges the United States to immediately and completely lift the economic, commercial and financial embargo against Cuba and develop normal state-to-state relationships with other Member States in accordance with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and basic norms governing international relations. This is in line with the common interests of the people of the United States and Cuba, and is also conducive to regional peace and stability. China will again vote in favor of the draft resolution submitted by Cuba under this agenda item. We fully believe that this draft resolution will again be adopted with an overwhelming majority, with a strong appeal for opposing unilateral sanctions and upholding fairness and justice.

I thank you, Mr. President.

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