Ambassador Rodolfo Benítez Verson, Permanent Representative of Cuba to the United Nations Office at Geneva, met today with Ms. Doreen Bogdan Martin, Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), at the Organization's headquarters in this Swiss city.
During the exchange, Ms. Doreen Bogdan Martin expressed her gratitude to Cuba for hosting the Global Youth Summit (GYS-25), co-organized by the ITU and the Cuban Ministry of Communications. The summit will take place in the Varadero beach resort, Matanzas province, on 11-13 March.
This Global Summit, under the theme ‘Amplifying youth voices in ICT for a more inclusive and connected future’, will serve as an important platform for young people from around the world to share ideas and perspectives on digital transformation, and information and communication technologies. Relevant issues such as digital empowerment of youth, cybersecurity, innovations in business models, the role of artificial intelligence, among others, will be discussed.
The Secretary-General also thanked Cuba for its active and constructive participation as a member of the ITU Council, the organisation’s governing body.
In turn, the Cuban Ambassador ratified the priority given by Cuba to issues under the ITU's focus, including telecommunications, digital development and artificial intelligence. The Artificial Intelligence Development Strategy in Cuba is part of the process of digital transformation of Cuban society, and part of its responsible, gradual and growing incorporation priority is given to the economy and social welfare, without overlooking the challenges involving its development in the country.
The two sides exchanged on the Global Summit on Artificial Intelligence, which will take place in Geneva on 8-11July. This is one of the most important events to be organised by the ITU this year.
Benítez Verson also briefed the ITU Secretary-General on the multiple impacts on telecommunications resulting from the blockade imposed by United States and the inclusion of Cuba on the one-sided list of States allegedly sponsoring terrorism.