Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel giving a speech at the Group of 77 and China G77+China summit held in Havana, Cuba on Friday, September 15, 2023 (Screengrab from Al Mayadeen live coverage)

Cuba has endured sanctions for decades, which led to the suffering of the nation and created severe challenges for the country, President Miguel Diaz-Canel said on Friday, emphasizing that the Group of 77 and China bloc is built on the pillars of friendship and partnership.

His remarks came during the G77+China Summit held in Cuba's Havana, a milestone event that is expected to have global geopolitical implications not only for its host country but also for China specifically, as well as the broader Global South.

Diaz-Canel pointed out that the bloc will confront challenges encountered by the people of its member states, citing these difficulties as a consequence of unjust international standards.

“The G77 bloc will face the challenges encountered by the peoples of these countries as a result of unfair international standards [imposed by the Global North].”
-#Cuban President Diaz-Canel at the G77+China summit#G77yChina #Cuba https://t.co/xCEVYlC8Zj
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) September 15, 2023

Countries of the Global South are unable to confront the current challenges with the existing order of global affairs still in place and will subsequently suffer more in the future, he warned.

The interests of suffering populations seeking change must be realized, the Cuban President continued, stressing the importance of prosperity and justice for all humans around the world.

Ahead of the summit in #Havana on Friday, here's the history behind the formation of #G77 and the significance this bloc carries in global politics. pic.twitter.com/gXJYYcFnOP
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) September 12, 2023

Strategies to promote Global South growth

Regarding the summit's objectives, the Cuban leader said top priorities for discussion include scientific and technological advancement, further noting that while the internet has enabled the spread of knowledge, it remains inaccessible to many developing and emerging nations.

Read more: G77; its history and legacy

Moreover, he stressed that economic growth and social justice must be pursued on a global scale and called for investments in the essential factors needed for a new world order.

The Cuban President highlighted that the colossal funds spent on wars worldwide should have been allocated to countries of the South to achieve sustainable development, aiming to make the world more just and more equal, adding that healthcare services have regressed in most developing countries that faced massive financial crises.

He also criticized rich countries for exploiting and monopolizing scientific and human resources, which, in turn, hinder the ability of nations of the Global South to progress and innovate. He then called for placing and implementing strategies capable of promoting growth in the Global South, which are built on collaboration and the sharing of expertise.

A quick glance at the G77

Founded back in 1964, as the fruit of the first UNCTAD conference, the Group of 77 quickly became a focal point for the world's economic landscape.

The bloc came at the heels of the devastating aftermath of the Second World War to serve as a platform uniting developing nations where they could: voice their concerns, advocate their interests, coordinate their stances, and negotiate with developed nations.

Initially, the group included 75 states, but by the end of the first UNCTAD conference, Australia and New Zealand withdrew from the group and 4 developing nations were added to consolidate the organization as a 77-state group.

This unity proved instrumental in the group's ability to yield change. Muchkund Dubey, former Indian Foreign Minister and a witness to the group's formation, described the G77's mission as a "historic endeavor to change the rules of the game." The group not only established new principles and standards governing the global economic system but also confronted the staunch resistance of developed nations head-on.