Cuba-China science and technology cooperation at an opportune moment

by Roberto Morejón

The recent agreement to increase scientific and technological cooperation between China and Cuba represents an important advance for the latter country in its quest to improve the welfare of its people and work toward development.

A working session in Havana between officials and experts from both nations analyzed ways to increase exchanges in molecular immunology and neuroscience, among other areas.

The agreements open perspectives for expanding training capacities and responding to public health emergencies, such as non-communicable diseases, and for stimulating meetings between young scientists and technicians.

Scientists from Cuba and China have exchanged experiences and initiatives in areas such as molecular immunology, neuroscience and sericulture, mainly through the Academy of Sciences and the National Natural Science Foundation of China.

All this is possible because of the development of science and technology in the Island, specialties affected by the U.S. blockade, but able to contribute a wealth of knowledge, experience and even research projects.

For Cubans, it is an honor and a source of satisfaction to establish relations with such rigorous institutions in China, Asia and the rest of the world.

In the land of José Martí, they value counting on the Asian giant in the advancement of science and technology, especially when the Caribbean nation is promoting objectives in this sense and in innovation as part of its economic and social sustenance.

The Caribbean archipelago, with very limited natural resources and accentuated material shortages due to external encirclement, nevertheless has highly qualified personnel whose potential China appreciates. This last front is linked to one of the pillars of the programs of the Antillean economy, since there is an urgent need to work the land through adequate yields in order to mitigate the current deficit of supply in the markets.

The Cubans understand that in addition to their good relations with China, established 64 years ago, the inclusion in the Silk Road Initiative will open additional margins of mutual contributions.