Cuba joins the Belt and Road Energy Alliance
The Energy Alliance is one of the projects that are part of the Xi Jinping government’s Belt and Road initiative. The Alliance was launched in October 2018 to finance and develop energy projects, especially from renewable resources, around the world. There are currently 30 countries officially participating in the Alliance, including Cuba, which joined recently.
The Cuban Foreign Ministry announced the island’s integration into the Energy Alliance through its Twitter account on October 18, and was immediately applauded by several Cuban politicians. Carlos Miguel Pereira, Cuban Ambassador to China, stressed that collaboration in the energy sector is essential to collectively overcome international challenges in the area of climate change. He also stressed that China is a leader in the energy transition required to overcome today’s environmental crisis, underscoring its contribution to sustainable progress through green energy and inclusive access to energy services. On the other hand, the Cuban Minister of Energy and Mines, Liván Arronte, spoke in favor of Cuba’s accession to the Alliance, considering it indispensable for the island to achieve true independence in energy matters and to meet the Sustainable Development Goals.
Lead story:
Granma (2021). Cuba integra la Alianza Energética de la Franja y la Ruta.
Additional source:
Cuba Noticias 360 (2021). ¿Qué es la Alianza China de Energía de la Franja y la Ruta y por qué Cuba se incorporó?