THE Tenth Asia Pacific Regional Meeting of Solidarity with Cuba was successfully held in Beijing, People’s Republic of China on October 29-30, 2024. The meeting unanimously adopted a resolution supporting the international demand for an end to the unjust and criminal policy of blockade imposed by the United States government on the Republic of Cuba for the last 64 years. On the same day, the United Nations Assembly has come out with a resolution demanding the same and endorsed by 187 countries – including India – out of 193 countries. Only Israel voted against the resolution with the USA, thus revealing its disgraceful isolation across the world. Though non-binding, the resolution voted at the UN General Assembly for the 32nd time is advisory in nature and reflects the stance of the international community.

The meeting also called for an immediate and lasting ceasefire in the Gaza Strip of Palestine, an end to actions that escalate tensions and measures to alleviate the humanitarian disaster in Gaza. Persistent war crimes by Israel are vehemently patronised by US Imperialism.

 Both the countries, Cuba facing 64 years-long embargo and Palestine subjected to decades of domination and aggression by Israel now blown up as a brutal warfare killing tens of thousands of innocents including children and women have a common factor to withstand – the scheme of US imperialism to subjugate independence and sovereignty of the people anywhere in the world.  In this context, the call by the Solidarity Meeting with Cuba to defend the integrity and sovereignty of Palestine and international peace and security of all the nations is politically highly significant.  Cuba, despite having part of its territory illegally occupied with a foreign military base, is the guarantor of world peace and of the Latin American and Caribbean region which was proclaimed a Zone of Peace in Havana ten years ago.

The Tenth Regional Meeting of Asia Pacific Countries was attended by 70 delegates from 16 countries, representing 36 organisations and groups of friendship and solidarity.  This was for the first time that the regional meeting was held in the People's Republic of China. A five member delegation comprising Nilotpal Basu, P Krishnaprasad, Adarsh M Saji, AM Saleem and Bijay Kumar Padhihari representing the National Committee for Solidarity with Cuba participated from India.

 The welcome address was made by Yuan Mindao, vice president of Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries.  He cherished the heroic revolutionary tradition of the people of Cuba and mentioned the emerging specific friendly relationship between China and Cuba in the recent period. Sun Yi, deputy director of the Department of Latin America and Caribbean Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of People’s Republic of China briefed how Cuba in the context of the embargo imposed by the USA for the last 64 years interacted with the countries across the world, developed diplomatic relationship and defended international solidarity. He pointed out the loss suffered by the people of Cuba in different sectors like energy, food and medicine due to the inhuman blockade.

Fernando Gonzalez Llort, President of Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples extended a warm welcome to all delegates attending the meeting. Fernando- one of the ‘Cuban Five’, the revolutionary heroes, unfairly imprisoned in the United States for fighting against terrorist organisations that have operated from US territory against Cuba- expressed his gratitude to the solidarity support across the world to Cuba and recalled the role of Jose Marti, the legendary revolutionary leader of historic struggle for independence of Cuba from Spanish colonialism.  Fernando cherished the determination of the people to fight imperialist domination and greeted their desire to ensure a better world free of exploitation and injustice. He expressed confidence on the future generation in upholding international peace, integrity and sovereignty.

Nilotpal Basu, the leader of the Indian delegation, acclaimed Cuba still fighting by withstanding 64 long years of embargo imposed by the mighty US imperialism as an inspiration to all anti-Imperialist forces world over. He recalled the role played by Harkishan Singh Surjeet, the great Indian revolutionary in forming the Asia Pacific Solidarity with Cuba movement in the context of the collapse of the Soviet Union in early 1990’s. The National Committee for Solidarity with Cuba – NCSC – thus formed in India with active involvement of class and mass organisations of workers, farmers, students, youth, women etc collected a shipload of grains and food materials in the backdrop of the severe crisis faced by the people of Cuba due to the unexpected break of Soviet support and in contrary the harsh embargo imposed by the USA.  The first Asia Pacific Regional Meeting in Solidarity with Cuba was held in Calcutta in 1995 and the third meeting in Chennai in 2006. Nilotpal said, Moncada Day on July 26 is observed in India by NCSC every year with wide participation.

There was a welcome reception that was addressed by Wu Jie, advisor, China-Latin America Cultural Exchange Centre in Beijing and concluded by Alberto Jesus Blanco Silva, the Ambassador of the Republic of Cuba to the People’s Republic of China.

The meeting resolved to schedule International Solidarity Day with Cuba on an appropriate date ensuring involvement of the people through consultation with the people’s movements, friendly organisations and well-wishers all over the world.  Another decision is to call on and put pressure on governments of the respective countries to demand the lifting of the blockade on Cuba by holding vigils, silent protests, solidarity protest/caravans etc as part of the campaign.

Action plan also includes promoting visits of young professionals to and from Cuba and to have programmes of sharing knowledge and experiences.  Awareness campaigns in the respective countries like literacy campaigns to promote Cuban methodology of education, on Cuba’s achievements in sustainability, on methods of agriculture (urban agriculture) and approach to the climate crisis will be designed. The plan also covers organising solidarity brigades’ visits to Cuba, sports and cultural exchanges with Cuba.

The resolution strongly demanded removal of Cuba from the list of countries allegedly sponsoring terrorism, a deceitful measure which increases trade restrictions, hampers economic and social development, creates hardships for the Cuban people and harms the interests of other countries and their citizens who seek relations with Cuba, in flagrant violation of the Charter of the United Nations and international law.

Considering the severe crisis in economic, financial, energy, environment and other sectors and hardships being suffered by people of Cuba, worldwide solidarity action to ensure increased support is necessary in order to benefit health, education and the development of food production systems. In order to promote friendship with the new generations, as faithful followers of the dreams of internationalism, collaboration and solidarity among peoples, enhancing the role of graduates of educational institutions in Cuba, certain plans for exchange will be scheduled.

Various national solidarity committees will organise activities during 2024 and 2025 to accompany ICAP in the international events inside and outside Cuba, with the aim of honouring its mission of solidarity as Republic of Cuba reaches its 65th anniversary. August 13, 2026 being the birth centenary of Fidel Castro, the legendary leader of Cuban revolution, massive campaigns will be convened to disseminate the thought, historical legacy and the political and ethical paradigm in defence of solidarity and friendship upheld by the people of Cuba with the people of the world.