The goal of the Republic of Macedonia is membership in NATO and the European Union, we are part of the European economic area, but we need a European infrastructure. For that purpose, Macedonia has decided to build an important part of the European Corridor 8 with favorable Chinese loans, said the President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, in his address at the 6th Global Baku Forum in Azerbaijan, speaking on the topic: How to understand China's foreign policy?

In this context, the Macedonian President noted that the infrastructure projects within the "One Belt, One Road" will enable the Central, Eastern and Southeast Europe countries to be closely interconnected, which will increase the competitiveness of the economies of the region for foreign investment.
President Ivanov added that Macedonia believes that this initiative of China contributes to peace, prosperity, openness, innovation and connection between civilizations.

"We decided, with favorable Chinese loans from the 16 + 1 initiative, to build a part of the European Corridor 8, which connects the Adriatic Sea with the Black Sea. We are part of the initiative for the fast track from Budapest to Belgrade that is expected to go through the Republic of Macedonia to the port of Piraeus. We are also committed to renewing the project for connecting the Vardar-Morava-Danube Rivers with the Aegean Sea", the Macedonian President said in his address.

The "One Belt, One Road" initiative includes construction of several economic corridors that will cover two-thirds of the world's population and one-third of the world's GDP.

"The initiative aims to develop new markets for Chinese products, boost economic growth, create jobs and allow less developed Chinese regions to profit from infrastructure development and increased trade. In fact, the goal of both the old and the new Silk Road is trade, not projecting influence", the Macedonian President said.

In addition to the "One Belt, One Road" initiative, through which China is trying to overcome the economic challenges, President Ivanov also referred in his speech to China's capital investment in the development of artificial intelligence.
Several current and former presidents, prime ministers and ministers, as well as a number of distinguished personalities from the social and political life, university professors and representatives of the Youth Leaders Program are taking part in the Global Forum in Baku.

President Ivanov previously held bilateral meetings with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Moldovan President Igor Dodon and Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim.

The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, within the 6th Global Baku Forum, met with the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mr. Ilham Aliyev, with the President of the Republic of Moldova, Igor Dodon, and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Turkey, Binali Yildirim.

The meeting with the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, discussed the bilateral relations between the Republic of Macedonia and the Republic of Azerbaijan with an emphasis on exploiting the economic potential. A joint statement by President Ivanov and President Aliyev was that the relations between the countries, characterized by friendship, continuous dialogue and understanding, need to be expanded into specific areas of mutual interest.

President Ivanov expressed satisfaction with the continuing political dialogue and high-level meetings, stressing that it is necessary to strengthen them further in the field of economic cooperation. In this context, the Macedonian President said that the Republic of Macedonia is committed to increasing the trade through concrete opportunities for developing the cooperation and is available for Azerbaijani direct investment in the Macedonian economy through gas and energy projects. For this purpose, President Ivanov stressed, it is necessary to intensify the contacts between the government representatives and the business communities from both countries.

The meeting with the Moldovan President Mr. Igor Dodon exchanged views on the overall relations between Macedonia and Moldova and on the current situation and challenges in the region of Southeast Europe. President Ivanov stressed that there are numerous potentials for cooperation, which should be used jointly in order to increase the economic cooperation and to fully utilize the economic opportunities of both countries. The two presidents assessed that the relations between the Republic of Macedonia and the Republic of Moldova are characterized by mutual friendship and respect.

At the meeting with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Turkey, Mr. Binali Yildirim, the Macedonian President thanked for the hospitality shown during the official visit to the Republic of Turkey and expressed gratitude for the principle support for the use of the constitutional name of the Republic of Macedonia and the membership of Macedonia in NATO. "Macedonia's invitation to NATO will contribute to the long-term stability and security of the region", President Ivanov said. Prime Minister Yildirim said that it is a benefit for Turkey to have a great friend like Macedonia, and that his country will continue to strongly support Macedonia on our Euro-Atlantic path, especially ahead of the upcoming NATO summit in July. The two interlocutors expressed support for further strengthening of the economic cooperation, through the increase of investments and cooperation between the business communities of the two countries.

President Ivanov is paying a working visit to Azerbaijan on the occasion of his participation at the 6th Global Baku Forum, organized by the Nizami Ganjavi International Center. The topic of this year's Global Baku Forum is "Bridging Gaps to Creatw Inclusive Societies".

Today in Ankara, in the framework of his official visit to the Republic of Turkey, the President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, delivered a lecture on "Challenges to higher education in the third millennium" in front of the members of the Council of Higher Education of the Republic of Turkey and the rectors from all state and private universities of the Republic of Turkey.
In his lecture, President Ivanov referred to the historical changes in the education process, making a parallel between the millet system and the Macedonian model of integration without assimilation, as well as to the importance of respect of diversity rather than tolerance.

"One of the curiosities we are proud of - the first television program in the Turkish language was broadcast on the Macedonian television in Skopje in 1967. The Turkish state established its television in 1969. For two years in the air, a picture and a Turkish language word from Macedonia was broadcast. The first professional Turkish-language theater outside Turkey was in Macedonia, which will soon celebrate 70 years of existence. It indicates that there is no tolerance but respect for the other. Therefore, this philosophy offers solutions to the situation in the Middle East and the Caucasus. When you respect the other, you can expect respect for you, too. If you tolerate someone, he will know that you do not love him, that you just have patience for him", President Ivanov said in the lecture before the Turkish academic community.

President Ivanov also talked about the kind of education that is needed and is most appropriate for the new generations.

"We live in a time of great transformation, when knowledge requires a different interpretation, because young people will live in a completely different world in which the knowledge we have acquired is no longer beneficial. But if they understand the principles, they understand the laws and understand one thing called ethics, they will never face problems in life. The one who obeys moral laws, he also respects natural laws. The one who is in balance with nature, he is always accompanied by good people", President Ivanov said, who was presented with books by Ottoman authors.

President Ivanov stressed that Macedonia and Turkey need universities that will help young people reach their goals and boost their potential in the 21st century. According to him, the digital transformation of universities creates conditions for personalized study programs, which through technology parks enable creation of personnel for the fourth industrial revolution.
The President of the Council of Higher Education of the Republic of Turkey, Dr. Jekta Sarac, in his opening address, referred to the academic and political career of President Ivanov and informed that the Department of Macedonian Language became operational this week at the University of Ankara. He called on academics and rectors to support the co-operation with the Republic of Macedonia in the field of higher education.

The lecture was attended by Macedonian students in Ankara who had a meeting with President Ivanov. They shared their experiences in the education system in Turkey and stressed that they were greatly honored and pleased to attend the lecture of President Ivanov.

There are 185 state and private universities in the Republic of Turkey, with more than 7 million students.

The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, within his official visit to the Republic of Turkey, met today in Ankara with the President of the Republic of Turkey, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The unblocking of the integration processes is crucial for the long-term stability, security and progress of the entire region. In the next period, we expect constructive support, assistance and open lobbying for membership of the Republic of Macedonia in the Alliance by our friends - NATO member states. The invitation for membership will be an additional impetus for national reform processes and will be a positive example in the region, said the President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, after the meeting with the President of the Republic of Turkey, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The Macedonian President expressed gratitude for the principled position of the Republic of Turkey in resolving the bilateral dispute that the Republic of Greece has with the Republic of Macedonia on its constitutional name.

"In the 21st century, it is unacceptable the sovereign right of self-determination of a state, guaranteed by the Charter of the United Nations, to be contested by any other state. The difference over the name should be resolved within the framework of the UN and within the framework defined by the United Nations Charter, the UN Security Council Resolutions, the Interim Accord and the International Court of Justice judgment of 2011. Tackling questions, such as identity, language and the Constitution of the Republic of Macedonia does not contribute, but rather makes the resolution even more difficult. I am glad that during this visit President Erdogan expressed his full understanding of our views on this issue and support for the Macedonian side", President Ivanov said, who is paying an official visit to Turkey.

President Ivanov also thanked for the long-standing principled and unreserved support, especially for the way Turkey supports Macedonia on its path to full-fledged NATO membership.

Turkish President Erdogan reiterated Turkey's support for Macedonia's integration in NATO, and reaffirmed the principled position regarding the use of the constitutional name of the Republic of Macedonia.

"We were the first to recognize the constitutional name of the Republic of Macedonia. We share the same opinion on this as the very first moment. There is no change in our position. Turkey, in diplomacy, never acts ambiguously. Once we make a decision, we are ready to die for it, we never go back", Turkish President Erdogan said, noting that despite the recognition of the constitutional name of Macedonia and the name of the nation, Turkey was the first country to send an ambassador to Macedonia.

At the meeting, the need to intensify the cooperation in the fight against terrorism was noted.

The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, in the framework of his official visit to the Republic of Turkey, met today in Ankara with the President of the Government of the Republic of Turkey, Mr. Binali Yildirim, and the President of the Grand National Assembly of the Republic of Turkey, Mr. Ismail Karaman.

The meetings exchanged views on the overall bilateral relations between the Republic of Macedonia and the Republic of Turkey, where it was assessed that the two countries foster traditionally friendly relations, with intense contacts at the highest level.

President Ivanov exchanged information with Prime Minister Yildirim and Parliament Speaker Karaman on the situation in both countries and on the current situation in the region.

In the context of the Euro-Atlantic aspirations of the Republic of Macedonia, President Ivanov expressed gratitude for the ongoing principled support of the Republic of Turkey for membership of the Republic of Macedonia to NATO and expressed expectation that it should continue.

Macedonia’s NATO membership invitation will be an additional impetus for the reform processes in the country and will result in tremendous benefits for the long-term stability and security of the region”, President Ivanov said at the meetings with Prime Minister Yildirim and Speaker Karaman, expressing gratitude for the principled position of the Republic of Turkey on the use of the constitutional name of the Republic of Macedonia, including within NATO.

The meetings also exchanged views on the possibilities for economic cooperation and it was concluded that the example of the excellent political relations should be followed as both countries strive for further intensification of the trade exchange. President Ivanov voiced his expectation for increased interest of Turkish investment companies in the Republic of Macedonia.

At the meetings, expectation was expressed for deepening of the cooperation between the security services of both countries and finding effective means and methods for prevention and fight against the spread of violent extremism and terrorism.

At the meeting with the President of the Turkish Assembly Karaman, the importance of parliamentary cooperation for the overall bilateral relations was emphasized, in terms of its competencies for defining the legal framework, which creates conditions for the promotion of political dialogue and the dynamics of economic cooperation.