Observer: Shaping a more multilateral, equitable and just world

This year marks the 50th anniversary of China’s restoration of its lawful seat in the United Nations. China is an important regional and global player, with a great impact on international processes. Today it is the second-largest economy on the planet and one of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council. The world is currently very interconnected and it is not possible to speak of international relations without speaking of China. In the future, China will have an even greater role on the international stage. It will be a serious mistake not to count on China as an international actor. And without a doubt, my studies of China and my academic ties with this great nation have allowed me to corroborate the important place it occupies in today’s world.

Since the triumph of the Cuban Revolution in 1959, the Caribbean nation recognized the existence of only one China. Cuba has always supported the return of China to its rightful place within the United Nations system. The will of the Cuban government has always been to strengthen the historic ties of cooperation between the two nations. In this sense, Cuba’s support has been permanent, which has had a positive impact on bilateral ties.

In the complex international scenario, as some nations have been assuming unilateral practices of meddling in the internal affairs of other nations, imposing sanctions or provoking internal instability, China has promoted multilateralism and international cooperation on the basis of a shared world of mutual benefit for all humanity. China, under the premise that we all live on the same planet, believes we can advance through cooperation and the development of shared advantages. This vision is of great importance because it suits the interests of the underdeveloped nations that are the majority on the planet, but do not have a corresponding voice and vote in the international system. Furthermore, this vision comes from a country that is advancing toward new stages of development. This generates optimism in other nations that face difficulties derived from economic, financial and social instability as well as climate change.

China showed the world that it not only can contribute to the achievement of the UN’s 2030 Sustainable Development Goals domestically, but can also provide support to other nations. China’s active provision of vaccines during the pandemic, infrastructure construction, and support to underdeveloped countries, especially in Africa, are examples of China’s engagement in international cooperation.

Today the world has hope in China to contribute to the shaping of a more multilateral, more equitable and just world. There are several platforms by which China promotes the unity and cooperation of developing countries, such as the Group of 77 + China, the various regional mechanisms like ASEAN + China, CELAC + China, and so on. But the largest global cooperation initiative in 2021 cannot be forgotten, the Belt and Road Initiative, which has a unique role in tackling the complex international situation. And as the guarantor of world stability and a promoter of world growth and development, China plays an important role. Cubans are very interested in an ever greater involvement in this important initiative that contributes to their own national development.

Undoubtedly, Cuba and China are geographically distant, but close in desires. Health cooperation between the two countries has been very important, which also made it possible to jointly develop medicines, especially the Pan-Corona vaccine initiative. The two nations have created their own vaccines and contributed to the fight against the pandemic worldwide. China’s actions can be evaluated as exemplary and supportive.

I wish China great diplomatic success on this 50th anniversary, and I wish that it continues its foreign policy of mutual benefit and the formation of a multilateral world. It is important that the world experiences a greater voice and vote from less developed nations. Today China plays a very important role on the international stage and within the United Nations system, and hence can further promote peace, cooperation and development. The region of Latin America and the Caribbean has great expectations in the rapprochement with China.

(The author is the head of Asia and Oceania Group in the Research Center of International Policy in Cuba. The opinions reflected in this article reflect those of the author, not necessarily those of the People’s Daily.)

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