15th NAM summit opens in Egypt to seek solidarity

SHARM EL SHEIKH, Egypt, July 15 (Xinhua) -- The 15th Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit opened here Wednesday to seek more solidarity among developing countries to tackle major international or regional issues including the ongoing world financial crisis.

Cuban President Raul Castro, chairperson of the 14th NAM summit, declared the opening of the 15 summit.

He proposed the summit to observe a minute of silence in memory of the leaders of NAM who had passed away since the 14th summit.

During his speech, he said NAM has the conviction that all countries in the world should search for effective and justified measures to tackle the current financial crisis.

NAM should promote the establishment of a new international economic order of equality and sustainable development, he said.

At the two-day summit, leaders of over 100 NAM member countries or their representatives will focus their debate on the summit theme of International Solidarity for Peace and Development.

They are expected to discuss hotspot topics, such as the global financial crisis, climate change, the Mideast peace process, food security, energy and nuclear issues.

The leaders are also scheduled to sign the summit's Final Document and Sharm El Sheikh Declaration, and approve the movement's strategy and action plan for the future three years.

Founded in September 1961, NAM now groups 118 member states, 16observer countries and nine observer organizations.

The movement, which represents nearly two-thirds of UN member countries and comprises 55 percent of the world population, focuses on striving for interests of developing countries all over the world.