Photo: PL

By María Josefina Arce 

The Silk Road and Strip is currently a promising mechanism for international cooperation.  Born at China's initiative, it works for an inclusive globalization with shared benefits.

Nearly 130 nations, including Cuba, and more than 20 international organizations have signed cooperation agreements with the Asian giant within this project.

During the 2018 visit to Chinese territory by Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel, the link between Cuba and this mechanism was strengthened. A Memorandum of Understanding was initialed between the two governments for cooperation within the framework of the Silk Road Economic Belt.

Now the Caribbean nation has joined the Energy Alliance of this initiative, which encourages greater use of renewable sources, an aspiration of the Cuban archipelago.

In Cuba, almost all electricity is generated from fossil fuels, which represents a high financial burden, aggravated by the U.S. blockade.

In addition, the country is committed to caring for the environment, which is why it is betting on a change in its energy matrix based on a greater use of renewable sources to reduce CO2 emissions.

The Cuban president has highlighted the priority of the country's electro-energy development, associated to the so-called clean sources, since it is a matter linked to sovereignty, socio-economic progress and care for the environment.

On this path, solar applications are implemented for agriculture, domestic sector, industries and service companies, which can be extended as a result of the incorporation to the Energy Alliance of the Silk Road and Belt and Road.

The Asian nation has already accompanied Cuba in its energy plans. It has donated five thousand solar panel systems to our country.

 Now new possibilities are opening up for training, technical assistance and exchanges in the implementation of projects that contribute to the great objective of gradually transforming the energy matrix.

The Cuban archipelago has great advantages, highly qualified human capital and a sufficient and diversified potential of renewable energy sources.

Cuba has expressed its satisfaction at participating in China's initiative, a nation with which it has been linked by historic and friendly ties for more than six decades.