On June 13, 2025, the delegation of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment of the Republic of Cuba (CITMA), headed by Minister Armando Rodríguez Batista, visited the Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences (CRAES) to discuss issues of deepening scientific cooperation.

Having welcomed the guests, CRAES Vice President Quan Zhanjun briefed them on the academy's fundamental profile, progress in scientific research and innovation, as well as its international cooperation initiatives.

Vice President Quan emphasized that the recently concluded Second Ministerial Conference on Science and Technology Innovation under the Belt and Road Initiative has charted the course for CRAES to advance scientific collaboration with countries along the Belt and Road, while also setting forth new requirements. Under the guidance of both governments, CRAES stands ready to explore more environmental technology exchanges and cooperation with Cuba, jointly contributing to the building a community of all life on Earth.

Minister Rodríguez spoke highly of China’s achievements in ecological civilization, sustainable development, and the Belt and Road Initiative, and praised the innovations by CRAES in effectively supporting government decision-making through scientific research. He noted that Cuba’s commitment to ecological environmental protection and sustainable development, acknowledging progress while highlighting persistent challenges such as solid waste management difficulties, marine biodiversity loss, and air pollution control. He proposed enhanced bilateral cooperation to tackle these environmental challenges.

CRAES researchers presented technical advances in biodiversity conservation, circular economy development, solid waste management, coastal zone protection, and air pollution control. Both sides conducted in-depth discussions on future collaboration, reaching preliminary consensus on sustained academic exchanges and the pilot projects implementation.

Following the meeting, Minister Rodríguez visited Supersite for Urban Air Comprehensive Observation and Research (SUACOR).