A Belarusian delegation headed by Chief Academic Secretary of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus Vasily Gursky took part in a session of the National Innovation Council chaired by Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez, BelTA has learned.

The main item on the agenda was the social and economic model of Belarus and the impact that scientific, technological and innovative activities had on it. Following the meeting, President Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez proposed to set up a working group headed by Deputy Prime Minister Chapman Waugh to analyze Belarus' best experience and adopt its elements for the Cuban system of science and innovation.

As Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Cuba to Belarus Santiago Perez Beniteznoted, the current visit of the Belarusian delegation to Cuba is a result of the intensive relations between the two countries in the field of science. He recalled that last year a number of meetings were held between scientists. During the visit of the Belarusian delegation to Cuba in November 2022 the parties signed more than 30 documents on cooperation between the scientific centers of the two countries. During the recent visit to Belarus, representatives of the Cuban Ministry of Public Health discussed a number of proposals for cooperation, including in the field of science.

“The frequent meetings of Belarusian and Cuban scientific communities are based on mutual interest. Both countries are looking for new ways in the epoch of sanctions which the West imposed on Belarus recently and on Cuba 60 years ago. The fact that the Belarusian delegation held an official meeting with the president and the prime minister of Cuba after the session of the National Innovation Council speaks volumes of a special attitude towards your country. It is a sign to the Belarusian people that they have loyal friends, who recognize the successes achieved during the years of the country's independence and leadership by Aleksandr Lukashenko. The meeting of Belarusian scientists with Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez is also a political gesture of support to Belarus. By doing so we want to say that even in difficult times, when the West is trying to isolate your country, Cuba is ready to extend its friendly hand, as Belarus has always done towards us,” ambassador Santiago Perez Benitez said.

In his words, the meeting of the Belarusian delegation at the highest level opens new opportunities for cooperation in science, because Belarus and Cuba apply the same approach here. “We also believe that science should be strong not only in fundamental and theoretical fields, but should also be translated into practice. It can become a productive force. Cuba is ready to adopt Belarus' best practices in science and innovation while our developments in biotechnology and some scientific fields, such as biology, may be of great interest to you,” the ambassador said. He is confident that science will shape the future development of the Cuban and Belarusian society. “The intergovernmental commission is expected to meet in Minsk in June. I am sure that our countries have great prospects for cooperation not only in science, but also in medicine,” Santiago Perez Benitez added.

Written by belta.by