China calls on US to immediately lift blockade against Cuba

China

China calls on US to immediately lift blockade against Cuba

2025-10-29 10:05 Last Updated At：15:57

China on Tuesday urges the United States to immediately end a "barbarian" economic, commercial and financial embargo against Cuba imposed on the Caribbean nation for more than six decades.

Addressing a UN General Assembly debate on a draft resolution calling for lifting the longest economic blockade in history, China's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Fu Cong said the blockade against Cuba has brought profound sufferings to the Cuban people and been unanimously condemned and opposed by the international community.

Noting that this year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War and the founding of the United Nations, Fu said peace, development, and win-win cooperation are the prevailing trend of the times, but Cold War mentality and hegemonism still exist, and progress on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is seriously lagging behind.

China condemns a few Western countries for pursuing unilateralism, protectionism and bullying policies, refusing to fulfill their aid commitments, and imposing long-term illegal unilateral sanctions on Cuba, which seriously violate the UN Charter and international law, and undermine the Cuban people's right to subsistence and development.

"According to relevant statistics, the barbarian U.S. blockade, which has lasted for over 60 years, has caused cumulative losses of over 170 billion U.S. dollars to Cuba, covering fuel, food, daily necessities, medicine, and nearly every other area of life, bringing profound sufferings to the Cuban people. From March 2024 to February 2025 alone, losses amounted to 7.6 billion U.S. dollars, a 49-percent increase over the previous year and equivalent to the food cost of the entire Cuban population for approximately 4 years and seven months. These shocking facts and figures have drawn unanimous condemnation and strong opposition from the international community," Fu said.

Fu said China reiterates its firm commitment to upholding multilateralism and the international system with the United Nations at its core, and its firm opposition to hegemony.

China highly appreciates Cuba's contribution to upholding international fairness and justice and promoting global cooperation, and is willingness to further deepen cooperation in all areas with Cuba, said the Chinese envoy.

China once again strongly urges the United States to immediately and completely lift its economic, commercial, and financial blockade against Cuba, remove Cuba from the list of so-called "state sponsors of terrorism," and refrain from further betraying the international community and human conscience, Fu added.

The UN General Assembly will vote for the 33rd time on lifting the U.S. blockade on Cuba Wednesday. Since 1992, the UN General Assembly has voted every year on resolutions proposed by Cuba calling on the United States to terminate the blockade, which have always received overwhelming support from the international community.

UNGA President warns global multilateral system "under attack"

The multilateral system is "under attack" amid global turmoil, President of the 80th UN General Assembly Annalena Baerbock warned in her remarks on Wednesday.

In her briefing on the priorities for the resumed 80th Session of the General Assembly, the UNGA president noted that the current multilateral system does not collapse all in a sudden, but "crumbles piece by piece" in divisions, compromises, and lack of political commitment.

The president called all the UN member states to defend the UN Charter and international law and promote cross-regional cooperation.

She also urged to push forward the work of the UNGA on certain critical issues with a strong majority, rather than an absolute consensus among all member states. Such act is not a failure of multilateralism, but "an affirmation of it," she said.

The foundational principles of the institution should not be eroded by appeasement, she said, calling the member states to show courage, leadership, and responsibility at the UN's "critical make-or-break moment."

"The UN needs you. Your support, your leadership, your principle, stand, your cross-regional cooperation, if we are to preserve and modernize this institution, if we are to make it, rather than break it," she said.