UN Secretary-General António Guterres (left) meets with Miguel Díaz Canel Bermúdez, President of the Republic of Cuba, in Havana at the G77+China Summit Sept. 14, 2023. (UN Photo: Eskinder Debebe)

By Gary  Raynaldo    –   DIPLOMATIC  TIMES

UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged the leaders from the Group of 77 (G77+China) developing nations to take global action to champion a system “that works for all.”    The UN chief is attending the G77+China Summit in Cuba September 15-17 where he noted that although these developing countries have lifted hundreds of millions out of poverty in recent decades, they are now facing myriad crises, with rising poverty and hunger, rocketing prices, soaring debt, and surging climate disasters.  Guterres called on the world leaders to champion multilateralism rooted in equality.  The Summit began Friday at the Palace of Conventions in Cuba’s  capital city Havana. 

“I count on your Group, who have long been champions of multilateralism, to step up, to use your power, and fight.  Champion a system rooted in equality; champion a system ready to reverse the injustice and neglect of centuries; and champion a system that delivers for all humanity and not only for the privileged.”

–UN Secretary-General António Guterres

The UN boss joined some 30 heads of state and government from Africa, Asia and Latin America at the two-day summit.  In January, Cuba assumed the pro tempore Presidency of the Group of 77 + China, which is a coalition of 134 developing countries, designed to create an enhanced joint negotiating capacity in the United Nations.  Guterres told leaders that  global systems have failed the G77.

“Global systems and frameworks have let you down. The conclusion is clear: the world is failing developing countries.”

It is the first time that Cuba holds the pro tempore Presidency of G77  since the Group was established nearly 60 years ago.  The president of Cuba and the Secretary General agreed on the importance of the G77 and China Summit for the promotion of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

Leader of Cuban Revolution, Raul Castro attends  the Summit 

The leader of the Cuban Revolution, Raul Castro attended the opening day of the Summit. 

Cuban President Miguel Díaz Canel Bermúdez addressed the participants at the Summit urging unity and a “fighting spirit”. 

“As for the Group of 77, this is not the time for begging from the developed countries or for submission, defeatism or internecine divisions. This is the time to rescue back our fighting spirit, our unity and cohesion in defending our demands.”

-Cuban President Miguel Díaz Canel Bermúdez

The Cuban leader also said Southern developing nations seem  “destined to live on the crumbs that the current system has reserved for it.”  He added that the South suffers disproportionately from poverty: 

“It is the countries of the South which suffer most from poverty, hunger, indigence, deaths from curable diseases, illiteracy, human displacement, and other effects of underdevelopment. The International Monetary Fund’s financial support for the least developed countries and other low-income countries, from 2020 to late November 2022, was no more than what the Coca Cola Company has spent on advertising its brand alone in the last 8 years.”       -Cuba President  Díaz Canel Bermúdez

Secretary-General António Guterres (third from left) meets with Miguel Díaz Canel Bermúdez (second from left), President of the Republic of Cuba, in Havana Sept. 14, 2023.  (UN Photo: Eskinder Debebe)

“The world needs climate justice”  –  UN Chief Said 

UN Secretary-General António Guterres (left) meets with Nicolás Maduro Moros, President of the Bolivarian  Republic of Venezuela, in Havana at G 77+China Summit Sept 15, 2023. 

“The world needs climate justice as it needs financial justice,” the UN boss stated, adding:  “Developed countries must deliver the promised $100 billion, double adaptation finance by 2025, and recapitalize the Green Climate Fund.  Every person on earth must be protected by an early warning system by 2027 against natural disasters.”    Guterres  also said  finance is another area for urgent global action as many  developing countries are unable to service their debts due to the lingering effects of the pandemic, the global cost-of-living crisis, and extreme climate impacts.