By María Josefina Arce

Kampala, the capital of Uganda, is currently the scene of intense activity. Two important events will take place in that city of the African nation, the 19th Summit of the NAM, Non-Aligned Movement, and the Third Summit of the South Group of 77 and China.

Representatives of more than 100 countries have been working on the documents for the NAM meeting, which from today until Thursday is in session at ministerial level to give way to the segment of heads of state and government.

The crucial challenges facing the nations of the South and how to face them in a coordinated and supportive manner are at the center of the attention of the nations that make up this bloc, which was created in 1961.

In this regard, the Ugandan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jeje Odongo, pointed out that multilateralism and solidarity are more necessary than ever to respond collectively to the challenges of the future.

Cooperation is one of the principles of the NAM, which, more than 60 years after its emergence and with a broader and more representative membership from all continents, maintains its importance to defend the interests of the South.

The bloc's Working Group was created to gather the humanitarian needs and requirements of member countries and make aid feasible.

In this context, Cuba, the founding country of NAM, sent medical brigades to many of the member nations and was willing to share the anti-virus vaccines created by the Cuban scientific community.

Throughout all these years, the movement has been a defender of the sovereignty of peoples, territorial integrity, the right to self-determination of peoples and non-interference in internal affairs.

It is one of the largest organizations in the world and undoubtedly plays an outstanding and vital role in the international geopolitical scene.

It has been and is an interlocutor to be taken into account and has great potential to contribute to the search for solutions to the pressing problems of an increasingly unequal world.

At the meeting, Azerbaijan will hand over the leadership of the NAM to Uganda, which has expressed its commitment to the Movement and its willingness to work to ensure that the aspirations of the South prevail.