The Group of 77 and China consists of 133 nations of the South. It was formed on June 15, 1964 by 77 nations at the end of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, with the intention of promoting South-South cooperation and attending to their common problems of underdevelopment, a legacy of an international order established by colonial domination. China joined the group in 1991. The organization provides the possibility for the neocolonized peoples of the world to define a common approach to the issues that humanity confronts, in an environment that is freed from the interferences, manipulations, and pressures of the global powers.
The Group of 77 held its first South Summit in Havana in April 2000 and the second South Summit in Doha in June 2005. At these summits, as expressed by its 2014 Declaration,
The Group of 77 held its first South Summit in Havana in April 2000 and the second South Summit in Doha in June 2005. At these summits, as expressed by its 2014 Declaration,
“important declarations and plans of action were adopted that have guided our Group and constitute the fundamental basis for the construction of a new world order and an agenda owned by the countries of the South for the establishment of a more just, democratic and equal system that benefits our peoples. We pledge to continue the tradition of our countries on building national development and uniting at the international level, towards the establishment of a just international order in the world economy that supports developing countries achieve our objectives of sustained economic growth, full employment, social equity, provision of basic goods and services to our people, protection of the environment and living in harmony with nature.”
On June 15-16, 2014, in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, the Group of 77 and China held an Extraordinary Summit in commemoration of its fiftieth anniversary. Inasmuch as Bolivia is the current president of the Group of 77, the Summit was noteworthy for the presence of the perspective of the indigenous peoples of America and for the visibility of Evo Morales, who has emerged as one of the principal charismatic leaders in the emerging process of Latin American and Caribbean unity and integration. See “Speech by Evo Morales, President of Bolivia, on the occasion of the transfer of the presidency of the G77 and China to Bolivia” (New York, January 8, 2014).
The Extraordinary Summit issued a Declaration with 242 points that represent a consensus among the neocolonized peoples of the world. The Declaration affirms the importance of the right of sovereignty to the nations of the South, including the right to control natural resources in accordance with a national development plan.
The Extraordinary Summit issued a Declaration with 242 points that represent a consensus among the neocolonized peoples of the world. The Declaration affirms the importance of the right of sovereignty to the nations of the South, including the right to control natural resources in accordance with a national development plan.
“We affirm that States have, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and the principles of international law, the sovereign right to exploit their own resources pursuant to their own environmental and developmental policies. . . . We also reaffirm that the right of peoples and nations to permanent sovereignty over the natural wealth and resources must be exercised in the interest of their national development and of the well-being of the people of the State concerned. . . . We take note of and respect the decisions of some countries that decided to nationalize or to reclaim control of their natural resources in order to obtain greater benefits for their people, especially the poor, and to invest in the economic diversification, industrialization and social programs.”
The Declaration implicitly rejects the policy of the United States to impose its model of democracy on the world, to interfere in the political affairs of nations, and to distort information concerning political practices in nations.
“We consider that democracy is a universal value based on the freely expressed will of the people to determine their own political, economic, social and cultural systems and their full participation in all aspects of their lives. We reaffirm that while all democracies share common features, there is no single model of democracy and that democracy does not belong to any country or region, and further reaffirm the necessity of due respect for sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity and the right to self-determination, and the rejection of any attempt to break down constitutional and democratic order legitimately established by the peoples. We call for an end to the use of media in any way that might disseminate distorted information against States members of the Group of 77 in complete disregard of the principle of international law.”
The Declaration also calls for the eradication of poverty, the reduction of inequality, and the protection of the social and economic rights of the people; sustainable development and the protection of the Earth, addressing such issues as climate change, biological diversity, deforestation, and desertification; the full and equal participation of women, gender equality, and programs of action with respect to violence against women and girls in all of its forms; the “rights of indigenous peoples to their lands, natural resources, identity and culture;” debt cancellation and debt restructuring; reform of the global financial architecture; and reform of the United Nations.
The Declaration demands “the immediate and full withdrawal of Israel, the occupying Power, from the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the occupied Syrian Golan to the line of 4 June 1967 and from the remaining Lebanese occupied land.” And it calls for “the Government of the United States of America to put an end to the economic, commercial and financial embargo against Cuba, which, in addition to being unilateral and contrary to the Charter of the United Nations and international law, as well as to the principle of neighborliness, causes huge material losses and economic damage to the people of Cuba.”
For a full English version of the Declaration, go to: “Group of 77 Final Declaration 2014.”
The Group of 77 and China, having arrived at a consensus with respect to fundamental problems that humanity confronts, recognizes that its greatest challenge is to induce the global powers to listen to its consensual voice. It has arrived at the understanding that unity is indispensable for the attainment of the new international order that it seeks to create.
In his address to the Extraordinary Summit, Raúl Castro stressed the theme of unity, maintaining that “only unity will enable our ample majority to prevail.” He joined with others in calling for a new international order. See “Address by Raúl Castro Ruz, Summit of the Group of 77 and China, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia, June 15, 2004.”
Key words: Third World, revolution, colonialism, neocolonialism, imperialism, democracy, national liberation, sovereignty, self-determination, socialism, Marxism, Leninism, Cuba, Latin America, world-system, world-economy, development, underdevelopment, colonial, neocolonial, blog Third World perspective, Group of 77, G-77, Evo Morales, Raúl Castro
The Declaration demands “the immediate and full withdrawal of Israel, the occupying Power, from the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the occupied Syrian Golan to the line of 4 June 1967 and from the remaining Lebanese occupied land.” And it calls for “the Government of the United States of America to put an end to the economic, commercial and financial embargo against Cuba, which, in addition to being unilateral and contrary to the Charter of the United Nations and international law, as well as to the principle of neighborliness, causes huge material losses and economic damage to the people of Cuba.”
For a full English version of the Declaration, go to: “Group of 77 Final Declaration 2014.”
The Group of 77 and China, having arrived at a consensus with respect to fundamental problems that humanity confronts, recognizes that its greatest challenge is to induce the global powers to listen to its consensual voice. It has arrived at the understanding that unity is indispensable for the attainment of the new international order that it seeks to create.
In his address to the Extraordinary Summit, Raúl Castro stressed the theme of unity, maintaining that “only unity will enable our ample majority to prevail.” He joined with others in calling for a new international order. See “Address by Raúl Castro Ruz, Summit of the Group of 77 and China, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia, June 15, 2004.”
Key words: Third World, revolution, colonialism, neocolonialism, imperialism, democracy, national liberation, sovereignty, self-determination, socialism, Marxism, Leninism, Cuba, Latin America, world-system, world-economy, development, underdevelopment, colonial, neocolonial, blog Third World perspective, Group of 77, G-77, Evo Morales, Raúl Castro
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