Rio de Janeiro, July 7 – On the sidelines of the 17th BRICS Summit held in Brazil, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, reinforcing the growing ties between the two nations. This meeting marked the second high-level interaction between the leaders, following their earlier encounter during the 2023 BRICS Summit in Johannesburg, where Cuba participated as a special guest.
During their discussion, Prime Minister Modi expressed his appreciation for Cuba’s recognition of Ayurveda and offered India’s support in integrating the ancient Indian medical system into Cuba’s public healthcare framework. He also proposed the formal acceptance of the Indian Pharmacopoeia in Cuba, which would facilitate greater access to Indian generic medicines for the Cuban population.
As per agency report, Prime Minister Modi emphasized the importance of this collaboration through a message on the social media platform X, noting the promising potential for strengthening economic ties between India and Cuba. He identified areas such as technology, healthcare, and energy as promising fields for future cooperation. He also remarked that the growing acceptance of Ayurveda in Cuba is a significant development and highlighted discussions on enhancing disaster management frameworks.
A statement from the Prime Minister’s Office confirmed that the two leaders reviewed bilateral cooperation in several sectors, including economic partnerships, development collaboration, fintech, capacity building, science and technology, disaster response, and healthcare.
Recognizing India’s leadership in the digital sector, President Díaz-Canel expressed keen interest in India’s digital public infrastructure, particularly the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), suggesting a desire to explore similar systems in Cuba.
Both leaders also agreed to work together on pressing global issues concerning the Global South, such as healthcare, pandemic preparedness, and climate change. They praised the ongoing cooperation between India and Cuba on various international platforms.
Ayurveda, India’s indigenous system of medicine with a history of over 5,000 years, has its roots in the Atharvaveda and references to herbal treatments in the Rigveda. The term "Ayurveda" combines the Sanskrit words "Ayuh" (life) and "Veda" (science), representing the "science of life" and emphasizing a holistic approach to health and well-being.
