HAVANA, Cuba, Nov 16 (ACN) “Cuba is a country that receives and also offers sound development cooperation,” Cuban Ambassador José Carlos Rodríguez Ruiz said today during the second session of the Board of the World Food Program (WFP).
The Cuban representative stressed that for six decades Cuba has practiced South-South cooperation in various fields, with special relevance in health, education and agriculture. Moreover, he pointed out, based on the Island’s growing biotechnological and pharmaceutical capabilities, the country is also contributing in this field by providing Cuban vaccines to developing countries such as Nicaragua, Venezuela and Vietnam and undertaking cooperation actions in the areas of nutrition, climate and disaster risk reduction.
He particularly highlighted the experiences described in the document about cooperation between Haiti, the Dominican Republic and Cuba in the areas of early warning for hurricanes, earthquakes, weather forecasting and disaster risk assessment, among others.
Rodriguez Ruiz acknowledged the WFP’s commendable work in response to the Members’ request to promote South-South and Triangular cooperation, which has proven to be possible and necessary, as it allows taking advantage of the countries’ potential to strengthen international aid and contribute to capacity building and sustainable development.
On behalf of Cuba, he ratified the commitments assumed in the 2030 Agenda and at the Second United Nations High-Level Conference on South-South Cooperation (PABA+40), and the ongoing process of reforming the United Nations system.
He added that Cuba, as a member of the WFP Board, will continue to promote international cooperation, multilateralism and a better world for all without hunger and poverty.