Cuban Ambassador to China Alberto J. Blanco Silva speaks a press conference on September 13, 2023. Photo: Xinhua

Cuba will send a high-level delegation to participate in the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (BRF) which will be held in Beijing in October, Cuban Ambassador to China Alberto Blanco Silva told the Global Times.

The ambassador took office in China on August 1, 2023, and this is his second time serving as Cuban Ambassador to China.

At a press conference on Wednesday, Blanco Silva told the Global Times that this year marks the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and Cuba congratulates China on the initiative. The BRI advocates for extensive unity and participation of countries worldwide, rather than unilateralism. Cuba will send a high-level delegation to participate in the forum, he noted. 

According to media reports, the Group of 77 and China Havana Summit will be held in Havana, the capital of Cuba, from September 14 to 16. At the invitation of Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez, Li Xi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, will attend the G77+China Summit in Havana as the special representative of Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The Group of 77 was established in 1964 and is an intergovernmental organization designed to strengthen unity and cooperation to accelerate the economic and social development of developing countries. China is not a member of the Group of 77, but has consistently supported the organization’s just demands and reasonable requests.

In 1991, China and the Group of 77 jointly issued a position paper for the first time under the name “Group of 77 and China.”

During Wednesday’s media briefing, Blanco Silva said that the Group of 77 and China is the “most representative and dynamic group of South-South countries.” The group is diverse and includes some of the world’s largest economies, representing 80 percent of the global population and over two-thirds of UN member states. 

The diplomat emphasized the importance of China’s role within the Group of 77 and China. This is not only because China is one of the world’s major economies but also because it has valuable experience in areas such as technological innovation and promoting sustainable development. China actively contributes to development projects among Global South countries, including through projects like the BRI, Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative, and Global Civilization Initiative.

He noted that Cuba appreciates the support given by China to Cuba as the rotating chair for 2023, and reiterated that China’s participation and support are of great significance to the success of this summit. 

Cuba is willing to closely cooperate with China and other member states of the group to seek common solutions to the most pressing issues facing humanity.

Blanco Silva said that China is a force for stability and balance for the world, and it also provides many opportunities for the world, “just as it has since the birth of the Four Great Inventions.”

Chinese people have never gone to other countries for the purpose of colonization or aggression, but rather for work. China has long supported and implemented the United Nations Charter. China also possesses a huge market that cannot be replaced by other countries and has made crucial contributions in the fields of technology and innovation, he noted.

The Cuban diplomat emphasized that China never interferes in the internal affairs of Latin American countries, does not seize land from Latin American countries, and will not establish military bases against the will of any country. Therefore, China enjoys prestige worldwide and is a symbol of stability, balance, and opportunities.