Brisbane, 26 July, 2023. Marianniz Díaz, a researcher at the Center for Molecular Engineering of Cuba, and Ivan Barreto, an official at the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples, began their tour in Australia in the city of Brisbane.
After their arrival they were received by members of the Australia-Cuba Friendship Society (ACFS) in that city. During their stay, they will be accompanied by different branches of the solidarity movement.
The extensive agenda began with a visit to the Queensland State Parliament, where they met with Mr. Joe Kelly, deputy speaker and leader of the parliamentary group for friendship with Latin America, to discuss the possibilities of links and business between that state and Cuba. Subsequently, a meeting took place with organizers of the Nurses Union in Australia, who showed interest in the links that could be established with their Cuban counterparts.
They also participated in two activities linked to Australian universities, the University of Queensland and Griffith University, in which they offered an overview of the Cuban biopharmaceutical sector and the development of Cuban vaccines against Covid in the context of the tightening of the blockade imposed on Cuba by the government of the United States. The participants showed interest in knowing details on the subject, mainly about the confidence of the population in the Cuban biopharmaceutical sector and vaccines, Cuba's internationalist experiences during the pandemic and the possibilities of cooperation in the field of health.
The young Cubans also participated in a well-attended public meeting hosted by the Australia-Cuba Friendship Society at the Queensland Council of Unions Building, where they had the opportunity to address the public on the impact of the blockade and Cuba's strategy to confront COVID-19. In addition, they provided information on the Southern Cross Brigade, making several of those present to be interested in participating.
In the coming days, the exchange activities of both young people in Australia will continue, highlighting the National Consultation on July 29 and 30, annual meeting that unites all branches of the solidarity with Cuba movement in Australia. This meeting will take place in the city of Melbourne where the Cuban Ambassador to Australia, Tanieris Diéguez La O. will also participate.