The Venezuelan government proposes creating a sanctions-free zone where financial transactions, trade and investment will be protected from Western restrictions, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil said on Sunday.
"We propose creating a zone free from unilateral coercive measures in which we can carry out our financial transactions and interbank payments and which will allow us to guarantee direct investment and legal trade between our countries without risks, arbitrary or punitive obstacles from Western powers," Gil said at the UN General Assembly.
Gil added that the Venezuelan economy, despite sanctions, has begun the process of recovery with projected growth rates significantly higher than those of other countries in the region.
Earlier, during his speech at the UNGA, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov highlighted the alternatives to the institutions of the "collective West", which is accustomed to "looking down on the rest of the world;" these alternatives associations as BRICS and the SCO are now on the rise. Lavrov added that there is an urgent condition to regenerate the existing global governance architecture as soon as possible. He stressed that "a new world order is being born before our very eyes."
Venezuela is among the countries that have formally applied to join BRICS. It was not admitted to the bloc during the latest summit, but, according to South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa, there are plans to continue the expansion of the group.
The theme of the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly is "Rebuilding Trust and Reigniting Global Solidarity: Accelerating Action on the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals Towards Peace, Prosperity, Progress, and Sustainability for All."