African leaders, Shettima attends G77+China Summit in Cuba
African leaders from different regions are expected in the Cuban capital, Havana, for the Group of 77 and China Summit (G77+China Summit) scheduled to be held on September 15 and 16.
The Havana Summit is hosted by the President of the Republic of Cuba, Miguel Díaz-Canel as Chairman of the G77 and China, under the theme: “Current Development Challenges: The Role of Science, Technology and Innovation.”
The G77 is a group of developing countries in Asia, Africa and Central and South America first formed in 1964 and which has since grown to more than 130 members.
The Summit is expected to amongst others, explore proactive ways of addressing challenges facing the development of the member-states leveraging science, technology and innovation to enhance socio-economic growth.
Burundian President Evariste Ndayishimiye was the first African leader to arrive in Cuba, having landed in Havana on Tuesday and held meetings with Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel.
Nigeria’s Vice President Kashim Shettima, early Wednesday, departed Abuja to attend the G77+China Leaders’ Summit in Havana, Cuba, in continuation of President Bola Tinubu’s global investors drive.
He will join other world leaders, including the United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Gutteres at the Summit to deliberate on development issues facing members mainly from the global south.
Vice President Shettima will, on the sidelines of the Summit, hold bilateral meetings with other world leaders to promote Nigeria’s trade and investment relations in line with the economic development diplomacy of the Tinubu administration.
The Vice President is accompanied by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Abubakar Kyari; the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji; and the Permanent Secretary, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Adamu Lamuwa, amongst others.
Other African leaders who are expected to attend the Summit include Angolan President Joao Lourenco, Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi, Rwandan President Paul Kagame, Equatorial Guinea President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, Nigerian Vice President Kashim Shettima, Kenyan Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Ugandan Vice President Jessica Alupo and Zimbabwean Vice President Constantino Chiwenga among others.
The Group of 77 aims to provide means for the countries of the South to articulate and promote their collective economic interests and enhance their joint negotiating capacity on major international economic issues within the United Nations system, as well as promote South-South cooperation for development.
Nigeria is a founding member of the G77 group established in 1964 by seventy-seven developing countries. The coalition of 134 developing countries with 80% of world population, aims to promote its members’ collective economic interests and create an enhanced joint negotiating capacity in the United Nations.
In a message conveyed ahead of the Summit, the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the G77 can play an important role in the developing countries’ quest for development.
“It is very important that the developing countries fight in order to make sure that we reach the transformations that are needed in the international systems to create the conditions for them to face the challenges and be able to regain momentum in their development. And they need international solidarity, and they need justice in international relations for that,” said Guterres.
