Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister, Demeke Mekonnen said that Ethiopia and Cuba have agreed to establish a ministerial consultation platform in order to elevate the special relationship the two countries have been enjoying.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Demeke Mekonnen participated at the Heads of State and Government Summit of the Group of 77 + China that took place in Cuba from 15 to 16 September 2023, leading Ethiopian delegation.
Foreign Minister Demeke met and discussed with Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel and other officials on the margins of the summit.
According to Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ethiopia has carried out successful activities both at the summit and in its bilateral engagements.
In a remark he made following the conclusion of the Group of 77 + China Summit, Demeke said the Summit was timely for developing countries in order to overcome their challenges and accelerate development based on science, technology and innovation.
The relationship between Ethiopia and Cuba is not a regular one rather a special one which was built by blood and sacrifice, Demeke added.
Ethiopia and Cuba have strong people-to-people relationship through the scholarship that continued over the years, he stated, and noted “we have agreed to establish a ministerial consultation platform in order to elevate the special relationship we enjoy.”
"Due to his unique attention to Cuba’s relation with Ethiopia, the president has invited a visit by higher leadership level," the deputy premier added.
According to the deputy premier, Ethiopia can draw lesson from Cuba’s rich experience on biomass and biomedical while Ethiopia will share some of its experiences to Cuba.
The two countries have been receiving various pressures at the international arena and they still do one way or the other, the Deputy Prime Minister said.
Demeke further added that Ethiopia and Cuba have expressed interest to cooperate and support each other and overcome challenges.
The two countries have also agreed to strengthen their cooperation on international diplomacy arena.
The Group of 77 + China Summit was beneficial for developing countries to ensure their national interest by resisting the dynamic global geopolitics, Demeke said, and added that Ethiopia had a successful participation in the summit and will continue to participate.
Ethiopia, as one of the developing countries, has shared its policy in science, technology and innovation during the summit, it was indicated.
The Group of 77 is the largest intergovernmental organization of developing countries in the United Nations, which provides the means for the countries of the South to articulate and promote their collective economic interests and enhance their joint negotiating capacity on all major international economic issues within the United Nations system, and promote South-South cooperation for development.
Source: Ethiopian News Agency