A renowned Cuban neuroscientist said he felt motivated and guided after reading Chinese President Xi Jinping's reply letter encouraging him to further contribute to the cause of peace and development through scientific and technological innovation.
74-year-old scholar Pedro Antonio Valdes-Sosa has lived and worked in China for many years and is currently the director of the joint China-Cuba Joint Laboratory for Neurotechnology at the University of Electronic Science and Technology
In his letter to President Xi written in 2023, Valdes-Sosa presented the achievements of his team in advancing brain science research and neurological technology cooperation.
In the letter, the scientist said he was inspired by Xi's advocacy of science and technology and its use to improve people's lives, while expressing gratitude for the opportunity to participate in the cause and realize his life dream.
Since taking his post at the university in Chengdu, capital of Sichuan Province, his research team has made a series of achievements in brain-computer interaction, the monitoring of Parkinson's disease, and neural circuit information transmission within the brain.
Under his leadership, the university has engaged in scientific and technological cooperation with McGill University in Canada and the Cuban Neuroscience Center. The three nations have jointly initiated a project on brain science cooperation to share related data, information, and research outcomes, garnering participation from more than 20 countries and regions to date.
"And then on top of that, I met people here who had very similar research interests to me. Professor Dezhong Yao had practically the same line of research. In 2015, we created this laboratory and I've been living in Chengdu since then," said the scientist.
Deeply rooted in China, Valdes-Sosa has witnessed the country's rapid development, especially its remarkable progress in scientific research capabilities.
Along the way, he has cultivated genuine friendships in China. In 2017, Valdes-Sosa was honored with the Chinese Government Friendship Award. In 2019, he received an invitation to attend the grand National Day celebration ceremony in Beijing.
He said another purpose of his letter to Xi was to convey his admiration and express his unwavering determination and confidence in continuing to participate in China-Cuban cooperation.
"I saw the cooperation that we're building up and that were struggling for, Cuba and China together. I have to express these ideas - China, and under the initiative of President Xi, has the idea of uniting a great part of the world with the Belt and Road Initiative that started with infrastructure, but is ready now to start with science and technology. This is a very exciting time to live it. It's an enormous opportunity to work in China with this idea," Valdes-Sosa said.
Xi's reply to his letter has a tremendous impact in Cuba, said the scientist.
Noting that Valdes-Sosa has long been committed to enhancing the special friendship between Cuba and China and actively promoting scientific research cooperation between China and other countries, the Chinese president congratulated the Cuban neuroscientist and his team on having achieved breakthroughs in multiple areas.
International scientific and technological cooperation is a major trend, and countries should jointly promote the cause of peace and development for humanity through scientific and technological innovation, Xi wrote.
"It had a tremendous impact in Cuba. My friends have seen the letter and it has given them heart. They say there's hope in the world. And for me, since the letter came, the thing I'm saying I have to really now hurry. He is expressing trust in the scientists and technologists and medical people of the world, and I think we have to fulfill what he's asking. Why dedicate a great part of my life to be in this country? I'm here is because that's where I think that I'm going to be more useful to humanity," said Valdes-Sosa.
The Chinese president said in the letter that the traditional friendship established by the older generation of leaders from China and Cuba has been flourishing and continuously bearing rich fruits.
Xi also expressed sincere hope in that China-Cuba cooperation in various fields including science and technology could continue to deepen in the new era, so as to better benefit the people of the two countries.
"As President Xi expressed in a very nice way, the relations, that we are distant, geographically, but we are close at heart. The best partner for us is China. We can grow together and we can help the rest of the world," Valdes-Sosa said.
Cuban neuroscientist deeply moved by Xi's reply on cooperation with China
