Cuban vice president receives academics from the United States

Havana, July 8 (RHC)-- Cuban Vice President Salvador Valdes Mesa today received U.S. journalist DeWayne Wickham and other academic personalities from the northern nation, visiting the island.

During the meeting, held at the Palace of the Revolution, Valdés Mesa expressed his gratitude for the actions promoted by the visitors to improve relations between the two countries and eliminate the blockade imposed by the United States on the largest of the Antilles.

According to a national television report, the Cuban vice president delved into the structural changes being implemented in the country, following the approval of the Constitution of the Republic in 2019.

He also referred to the complex situation the Caribbean nation is going through, due to the tightening of the blockade, the negative impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the global economic crisis and the effects of climate change.

He also stressed that the economic, commercial and financial siege continues to be the main obstacle in the country's path towards development and explained to the visitors the actions implemented by the Cuban government to overcome the current scenario.

For his part, Wickham thanked Valdés Mesa for the welcome he received on the island, not only from government authorities, but also in all the places he visited.

The U.S. journalist received the special teaching status of Visiting Professor at the University of Havana the day before.

Wickham is a renowned journalist, academic and author of works published in multiple U.S. media.

His first visit to Cuba was in 1999 and since then he has been organizing trips for students and journalists from the U.S. interested in learning about the Cuban reality.