NEW YORK - Cuban and U.S. scientists have demonstrated over the years how much they can achieve when they join efforts and knowledge for the benefit of both peoples. The experiences shared in this city during a meeting of the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party and President of the Republic of Cuba, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, with U.S. professionals linked to science and technology ratifies this.
The dialogue, which is part of others that the Cuban Head of State has carried out in the context of the activities of the United Nations General Assembly, was also an opportunity to share with those present several issues that are now part of the national current affairs.
In this context, he recalled the recently concluded Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Group of 77 and China, whose central theme was devoted to science, technology and innovation, aspects in which there are large gaps between the countries of the South.
The President also commented on Cuba's scientific will and the leading role that Fidel's ideas have played and continue to play in it. A past development that allowed Cuba, Diaz-Canel explained, to successfully face the HIV/AIDS pandemic in the country and develop our own vaccines. From those fateful days, he also recalled the moments lived in the country during the oxygen supply crisis.
Science and innovation, said Díaz-Canel, is a pillar of the Government's management, from which numerous paths for progress in the country have been developed.
The dignitary thanked those present for their support to "Cuba in these times" and how, in spite of this, joint research has been maintained. Let us be innovative, he said, to continue advancing in our collaboration.
Those present at the meeting with the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party spoke of pride in the joint collaboration in various fields; of support for the Revolution; of joint projects and many others that can be initiated; of condemnation of the blockade...of continuing to build bridges together.
At the end of the dialogue, in statements to the press team of the Presidency of the Republic, Mark J. Spalding, president of the OceanFoundation, described the meeting as excellent. He said that it has been very interesting to have the opportunity to exchange with people from different disciplines who collaborate with Cuba and to listen to what each one of them is doing in their own sectors.
And it has been very positive, he considered, to learn about all that the people of Cuba are managing to do, despite the blockade and all the difficulties they are facing.
"We have supported this work for a long time, and since our foundation we have worked with different institutions such as the University of Havana and the Marine Research Center," he explained. These agreements, he said, have been maintained despite the difficult situations and will continue in the future.
Valerie Miller, director of the Oceans Program with collaborations with Cuba, in her words to the press considered it an "honor to share with so many groups that have scientific collaborations with Cuba, and to learn from the commitments that the country has in terms of science and education".
Referring to the joint work with Cuban professionals, he valued that "we all learn", while highlighting the many environmental and environmental science policies that exist in Cuba, not only for the benefit of the country, but also for others in the region.
"We believe that the environment continues to be a unifying force for both countries," he said. Meanwhile, he reflected, U.S. and Cuban scientists can continue to collaborate as they have been doing so far: "I feel there are many opportunities, and it is possible, although it is not easy.