In statements to Prensa Latina, Edwin De la Cruz, president of the Philippines-Cuba Friendship Society, highlighted the importance of an international movement in support of the Cuban people. “We cannot depend only on governments, it must be a movement of the people, in the streets, in the communities and in the workplaces, because that is the true strength of the international movement against imperialism and all forms of unilateral sanctions,” he said.
De la Cruz also advocated for unity between countries such as Venezuela, Iran, Nicaragua and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
The businessman and member of the Association of Friends of Cuba in Malaysia, David Chandran, exposed Cuba’s ability to face climate challenges despite the blockade. “Cuba shows us what resilience is with limited resources, we must learn from its example to face the difficult conditions that today’s world poses to us,” he emphasized to Prensa Latina.
Janet Roth, from the Communist League of Australia and member of the Society of Friendship with Cuba in that country, expressed that, in a context of economic crisis and conflicts, workers around the world can be inspired by Cuba’s experience. “The working people of Cuba, under the leadership of Fidel Castro, gave us an example of how to build a movement capable of taking political power and charting its own course,” she told Prensa Latina.
Some 70 delegates from 16 countries and 36 organizations from Asia-Pacific inaugurated the 10th Regional Meeting of Solidarity with Cuba, which is taking place, for the first time in China. The meeting will continue until tomorrow and will also include exchanges of criteria on the best practices of parliamentary groups in solidarity with Cuba, cooperation in support of economic development and the practice of multilateralism to build a community with a shared future.
In statements to Prensa Latina, the president of the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP), Fernando González, commented that despite the differences in origin and thought among the participants, they all agree on the need to support Cuba against the United States blockade and unilateral sanctions.
According to González, ICAP maintains relations with 1,694 friendship organizations in 151 countries, of which 32 are based in the Asia-Pacific region.
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