HAVANA, May 23 (Xinhua) -- Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel on Wednesday said the serious setback in ties with the United States won't be eternal, reiterating the island's position to cooperate and maintain respectful relations with Washington.

According to a Cuban State television report, Diaz-Canel participated in a meeting with local artists who recently took part in a festival dedicated to this Caribbean nation in Washington's prestigious cultural institution, the Kennedy Center.

"I do not believe the actual U.S. policy will be eternal and your presence in that festival in Washington can open new paths towards better ties," said the Cuban leader in his first public comments regarding relations with the White House since he assumed the presidency last month.

Diaz-Canel said his government will continue normalizing links with the United States based on respect and equal treatment.

"There is a continued effort from the United States to roll back the process of reestablishing relations with Cuba and normalizing ties, but this is something we want to move forward," and the festival showed "there are still points of contact," he added.

"Artes de Cuba: From the Island to the world" is a festival celebrating the artistic richness that has emerged from this Caribbean nation, started off this month and will last to the beginning of June.

This unprecedented gathering of over 400 Cuban and Cuban-American artists represents some of the world's greatest from the island and its diaspora.

"All of the artists there demonstrated not only their talent but also their commitment with our country and that Cuba must be respected," said Diaz-Canel.

The relationship between Washington and Havana have deteriorated after U.S. President Donald Trump decided to end thawing ties between both nations and rolled back his predecessor's policy of rapprochement last year.

Relations were also hampered by alleged "attacks" on U.S. diplomats in the island which led to the partial closure of the U.S. embassy in Havana and the expulsion of 15 Cuban diplomats in Washington.

Over 20 U.S. diplomats and their family members suffered symptoms such as hearing loss, tinnitus, vertigo, headaches and fatigue since the incidents were first reported in November 2016.

After months of investigations, security agencies of both countries have demonstrated the alleged attacks never took place.