Havana, February 22 (RHC)-- Cuba recognizes, appreciates, and counts on the contribution of its nationals abroad in the quest of the elimination of the U.S. blockade, Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez said.

The head of the island's diplomacy wrote on Twitter that Cuban emigrants support the defense of the independence, the sovereignty and the development of the nation.

In another tweet, the foreign minister said that one of the priorities of this agency's work is to pay attention to and strengthen ties with Cubans living abroad.

'The celebration in Havana of the 4th Conference on Nation and Emigration, from April 8 to 10, is a sign of this,' he added.

Rodriguez has described the strengthening of the island's ties with its emigrants as a continuous, irreversible, and permanent process.

The meeting was announced last December by President Miguel Diaz-Canel on the occasion of his visit to Argentina for the inauguration of his counterpart Alberto Fernandez.

These meetings were a continuation of the so-called '78 dialogue promoted by Fidel Castro, who said at the time: 'The (Cuban) Community (abroad) must be respected. The Community exists. The Community is a force, and the Community is taken into account.'

The first conference was organized in 1994, the second the following year, in 1995, and the third, in 2004.