By Raúl Menchaca
HAVANA, Sept. 12 (Xinhua) — The Group of 77 (G77) plus China will emerge stronger from the summit to be held in Havana on Thursday and Friday, predicted Cuban academic Eduardo Regalado of the International Policy Research Center (CIPI). . .
“The group needs to be strengthened to deepen articulation and cooperation, with the aim of promoting and developing economic interests and increasing its collective bargaining capacity,” Regalado assured Xinhua.
He predicted that through the discussion and adoption of the final document proposed by the summit entitled “Current Development Challenges: Role of Science, Technology and Innovation,” the necessary consensus will be reached to take practical measures to address the difficult international situation.
“I believe that the meeting will be a very positive element in consolidating the unity of these countries, despite their diversity and complexity, but that they have to face an economic and political order that is very damaging to the interests of developing countries.” said the political scientist.
Regalado believed the meeting will be an important moment in confronting an international financial architecture that he described as hegemonic and exclusive.
In addition, he added to also coordinate measures against foreign debt, market volatility, geopolitical tensions in today’s world, extraterritorial laws and unilateral coercive measures that significantly harm developing countries.
“It also seems to me that the summit will strengthen the necessary articulation so that the group can develop strategies that help resolve the dynamics of all its members,” said the academic with advanced studies in geography and Marxist philosophy.
Assessing Cuba’s role in the bloc’s temporary presidency, he recalled that the island has been an active member of great importance on the global stage since joining the G77 in 1971.
Regalado highlighted Cuba’s standing on the international stage as a pioneer in the defense of the nations of the Global South and in the implementation of a comprehensive cooperation project with the most disadvantaged.
“Cuba has a great convening capacity that has been used to articulate and defend developing countries, which will be reflected in its participation in the upcoming summit,” he noted.
The scientist announced that as host of this meeting, the island will play a prominent role in developing and implementing strategies to cope with the new world realities.
“The summit will be a success and a further step towards multipolarity, peace and development,” he emphasized.
With 134 members today, the bloc is the largest intergovernmental grouping of developing countries in the United Nations, although it originally consisted of only 77 members, hence the name.