Academics from the United States, participants in the XIV International Congress of Higher Education, today expressed their interest in strengthening collaboration with Cuban universities.
In a meeting held at the Palco Hotel in the capital, the professors extolled the potential of the conclave for the conclusion of alliances, while at the same time they were interested in the consequences of the blockade imposed by the United States on the island in various areas.
The northern nation attends the event with a delegation of 59 people, in which the participation of rectors and vice-chancellors of US universities stands out.
The Cuban Vice Foreign Minister, Carlos Fernández de Cossío, detailed the effects of the unilateral policy and stressed that it limits the island from many of the cutting-edge technologies required in health, education and food production, among others. other sectors.
During the meeting, Fernández de Cossío stressed that international relations serve to bring peoples together, establish ties, and that involves education and understanding.
The vice minister also valued the broad American representation in Congress, "since we greatly favor the exchange between the two countries, so that our people have the best possible opportunities to get to know each other, exchange and, if appropriate, to cooperate in areas of great interest."
The State University of New York (SUNY) is one of the three foreign educational institutions that has an exhibition stand in Congress, held in the capital's Convention Center.
SUNY is the largest network of higher education institutions in the United States and has 64 universities in total.
The president of SUNY, Cortland, Erik J. Bitterbaum, who also participated in the meeting, expressed to Prensa Latina his interest in establishing alliances and signing agreements within the framework of Congress for the future studies and training programs of his students.
He highlighted that some of his students brought very positive experiences from Cuba after their participation in various workshops in the island.
Bitterbaum indicated that the ties between Cuba and the United States can be strengthened from an academic point of view, given that the Caribbean nation has great potential in this regard. "We have all the staff willing and with a high academic level and the universities can really help build bridges between our two countries," he said.
Prensa Latina/Permanent Mission of Cuba to the United Nations