President Kovind holds talk with Cuba President Diaz-Canel

Speed Post News Network

New Delhi : The President of India Ram Nath Kovind delivered a lecture at Havana University in Cuba on June 22, 2018, on the subject “India and the Global South”.

The President said that the subject “India and the Global South” – he has chosen to speak on happens to be central to both Cuban and Indian foreign policy. And it is an area of multilateral engagement, where we have seen real and robust impact of India-Cuba close cooperation, with both countries playing a stellar role in powering South-South Cooperation and standing up for a stronger voice for the Global South or Developing Countries.

The solidarity of the Global South lay at the heart of the international vision of great leader and statesman of Cuba Fidel Castro and the Cuban Revolution. He said his talk was a tribute to Fidel Castro’s contribution and vision to make the world a better place for the citizens of the developing world.

President Kovind said that the values of South-South Cooperation have stood us in good stead. The decision of the United Nations for hosting the second High-level United Nations Conference on South-South Cooperation in Buenos Aires in 2019 is a welcome move, he said.

The President said that development partnership secures the interests of the Global South, but only partially. We have to work together to push for greater space for developing countries in global governance structures. In this context, we must give a greater push for reform of the United Nations including the Security Council. Similarly, the Bretton Woods Institutions must factor in the growing weight of the countries of the South in their decision making.

Preserving a rules-based global trading order remains critical to promote the interests of developing countries. At the World Trade Organization Doha Round of Negotiations, it is essential that issues of food security and livelihoods are given utmost sanctity, he added.

The President said that globalisation may have lifted millions out of poverty but the unmet needs in developing countries still remain. The growth agenda centered on poverty eradication, therefore, must be at the heart of the global development discourse, he said, according to a PIB release.

The President said that the Global South has come a long way in its journey since the 1960’s. Today, the Group stands stronger and taller. It is a diverse Group with countries at various levels of development.

Earlier on June 22, the President was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Revolution Palace. Subsequently, he led the delegation level talks with the Cuban side led by President Diaz-Canel. Both sides reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral relations and exchanged views on global issues of mutual concern.

Both countries agreed to enhance cooperation in the fields of Biotechnology, Renewable Energy, Traditional Medicine and Trade and Investment.  Two MOUs were signed in the areas of Biotechnology and Traditional Medicine and Homeopathy. President Kovind was accompanied by 9 Indian biotechnology companies on this visit and these companies had engaging discussions with their Cuban counterparts.

President Kovind thanked President Diaz-Canel for Cuba becoming a founding member of the International Solar Alliance and sought his support to help the Alliance combat Climate Change. India offered a Line of Credit of US Dollars 75 million to support a 100 Mega Watt solar power project in Cuba. India also offered additional 10 slots to Cuba under the ITEC programme, taking the total annual scholarships given to Cuba to 70. Both leaders also conveyed their continued commitment to the reform of the UN Security Council. Cuba reiterated support to India’s candidature for a permanent seat in the Security Council.