UNITED NATIONS, Jun 24 (NNN-XINHUA) – A Chinese UN envoy yesterday called for an end to U.S. unilateral coercive measures against other countries.
Zhang Jun, China’s permanent representative to the United Nations, made the appeal at a UN General Assembly meeting, on the necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States against Cuba.
At present, the continued ravage of the COVID-19 pandemic is bringing serious shocks to the socio-economic development of all countries, particularly developing countries, making it all the more difficult to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. All countries should bear in mind a community of shared future for mankind, join hands in fighting the pandemic, so as to build back better and seek common development, he said.
However, some Western powers resorted to abusive unilateral sanctions, in violation of international rules and international order, poisoning international relations. Countries of the world have all the right to adopt countermeasures, to resolutely resist and counter the unilateral sanctions, so as to effectively safeguard their own legitimate rights and interests, said Zhang.
The U.S. embargo against Cuba and coercive measures against other countries, do not go well with international trend of peace, development and win-win cooperation. The measures violate international consensus on the 2030 Agenda, and harm the rights of peoples of the countries concerned, to survival and development, and basic human rights. These measures must be stopped immediately, said Zhang.
For 28 consecutive years, the UN General Assembly has adopted resolutions, with an overwhelming majority, on the necessity of ending the U.S. embargo against Cuba. The resolutions represent the just call of the international community, and must be effectively implemented, he said.
“It is regrettable that the economic, commercial, and financial embargo imposed by the United States against Cuba, instead of being stopped, has, on the contrary, recently been intensified. This seriously violated the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and relevant General Assembly resolutions, severely restricted the access of the Cuban people to medicine, vaccines, and supplies needed for fighting the pandemic. It has also severely hindered the efforts of the Cuban people, in achieving sustainable development goals, such as poverty eradication, and seriously affected Cuba’s normal economic, financial, and development cooperation with other member states,” he said.
China has always advocated for respecting the independent choice of all countries, in their social systems and development paths, safeguarding international order, underpinned by international law, defending international fairness and justice, and opposing the use of unilateral coercive measures against other countries, by military, political, economic, or other means, said Zhang.
All the countries in the world form a community of shared future. Dialogue on an equal footing and friendly consultation is the best way of addressing differences. Unilateralism, protectionism and bullying will ultimately backfire, he said.
China urges the United States to immediately and completely lift the economic, commercial, and financial embargo against Cuba, and develop normal state-to-state relationships with other member states, in accordance with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and basic norms governing international relations. This is in line with the common interests of the peoples of the United States and Cuba, and is also conducive to regional peace and stability, he said.
The UN General Assembly yesterday adopted a resolution on the necessity of ending U.S. embargo against Cuba, with 184 votes in favour, two against, and three abstentions.– NNN-XINHUA
