The Vice Minister of Communications of Cuba, Ernesto Rodríguez Hernández, participated in the China-CELAC Cooperation Forum on Digital Technology to fight COVID 19 convened by the Mexican Pro Tempore Presidency of #CELAC and the People's Republic #China.

The Forum, held in virtual mode, aims to discuss digital technologies applied in the fight against the current pandemic that has proven to be a global challenge, which has had a negative impact on health systems, world economy and the safety of countries and has increased the digital gap between developed and developing countries.

"This situation clearly demonstrates the need for a communications infrastructure that allows equal access to reliable sources of information and provides assistance to health entities and public services," said Ernesto Rodriguez Hernandez, vice minister of communications.

The Vice Minister emphasized that the global economic and health crisis has accelerated the computerization of processes and services in many companies, including telecommuting and teleconferencing systems, health care services, education, commerce and e-government, among other essential services for society.

In his speech, Ernesto Rodríguez Hernández highlighted the role of the Cuban State, as guarantor of social stability, in providing the necessary means to face the crisis caused by COVID-19, where knowledge, science, technology, computerization, innovation and social communication have been of great importance.

He highlighted the role of Cuban science in successfully and efficiently confronting COVID-19 and also the academic and business sectors in the development of systems to process information and statistics and favor communication with citizens.

"Cuba joins efforts in the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) in global response to the pandemic, as evidenced by the continuity in the expansion of infrastructure capacities and telecommunications and digital television services, which have been vital for the development of teleworking and telecommuting, tele-training platforms, videoconferencing systems," said the Vice Minister of Communications.

"In the face of the crisis caused by COVID-19 Cuba calls for global unity, solidarity and international cooperation and demands the cessation of unilateral coercive measures that violate international law and the United Nations Charter and limit the ability of States to universal and secure access to telecommunications and ICTs, as tools to effectively address the pandemic," said Ernesto Rodriguez Hernandez.

In concluding his speech, the Vice Minister of Communications reaffirmed the commitment to continue contributing within the framework of the China-CELAC Forum, under the principles of respect, equality, plurality, inclusion and observance of the Proclamation of Latin America and the Caribbean as a Zone of Peace.  He also reiterated the need to strengthen international cooperation and solidarity to exchange, develop and share best practices and initiatives in the use of ICTs as a fundamental tool to mitigate the effects of the pandemic.