Obiang Nguema Mbasogo Opens 7th ACP Summit
In his
welcoming remarks, President
Obiang urged the ACP Countries to strengthen their existing economic and
regional groups to reach total production capacity and become emergent
economies. Equatorial Guinea proposed the creation of a mechanism for South-South
global economic cooperation to replace the ACP Group’s many subsets.
“The new
group can strengthen the Group of 77 to redirect it toward building the
political, economic and social systems of the countries of the south, and he
said that the meeting in Malabo may be the birth of this organization. “Whether
we form a new group or provide assistance to the current ones, we should
provide guidance and political strategy that allow our groups to play an
effective role in the international arena,” said President Obiang.
President Obiang Nguema Mbasogo
said, “We enjoy commercial flow with the European Union thanks to our natural
resources. Cooperation with developed countries should allow ACP economies to
reach sustainability; this cooperation should produce beneficial effects for
both.”
“Energy
problems, poverty struggles and climate change call for the ACP Group to
strengthen security ties and cooperation, given the similarity of our
socio-economic problems, in order to face these common challenges,” said
President Obiang. “We must face the challenges derived from globalization and [our]
economies. So our countries must commit to change through reforms.”
He said, “Secure access to energy will allow us to develop access to other
areas that our countries need.”
President Obiang said it was an
honor for Equatorial Guinea and Central Africa to host the Malabo Summit, and
that the Central African nations are eager to propose solutions to the
challenges that ACP countries face. “Equatorial Guinea hopes this Summit
addresses the strategy that expresses a new North-South cooperation.”
John
Dramani Mahama, President of the Republic of Ghana and the 6th ACP
Summit, said that President Obiang’s commitment to host the ACP Summit shows
his commitment toward sustainable, economic and social development. He called
Sipopo the ideal place to host summits, conferences and sporting events.
Dr. Mohamed
Ibn Chambas, ACP Group Secretary-General, praised Equatorial Guinea’s recent
progress in his address to the Summit. “Within a decade Equatorial Guinea has
made significant changes…because of the vision of the national leadership that will
ensure that the country and its human development continue to grow toward
building a free, democratic and prosperous society.”
The
conference session on “The Future of the ACP Group in a Changing World:
Challenges and Opportunities” dealt with economic partnership agreements (EPAs)
and other trade-related issues; meeting the challenges of peace, security,
stability, and good governance; the future of development finance; and the
enhancement of intra-ACP cooperation.
Afternoon
sessions focused on the environment, climate change, food security and rural
development in ACP countries.
Today’s ACP
Summit was also attended by European Union Commissioner for Development Andris
Piebalgs; Dr. Boni Yayi, President of the Republic of Benin and the African
Union; Hon. Kenny D. Anthony, Prime Minister of St. Lucia and Chairman of the
Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM); and
Hon. Henry Puna, Prime Minister of Cook Islands and Chairman of the Forum of
Pacific Islands.