The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, delivered a lecture before the students at the Southwestern University of Finance and Economics in Chengdu, partner of the Confucius Institute in the Republic of Macedonia, marking the end of his working visit to the People's Republic of China.

As part of the visit to the University, President Ivanov was awarded with a high scientific recognition - Professor Honoris of this University, which holds about 23,000 students.

In the lecture titled "The Road of Wisdom, the Silk Road and the Road to Economic Success", the Macedonian President noted that both the Republic of Macedonia and the People's Republic of China are focused on economic success, therefore, it is natural these two successful economies to cooperate.

President Ivanov believes that the Republic of Macedonia and the People's Republic of China are tied by the road of wisdom, because both China and Macedonia and the Balkans in general, as he said, were lucky to be the places great popular teachers have emerged and worked, whose knowledge has became part of world's wisdom.

"Today, Macedonia and the rest of the world need to use a mirror to copy the Chinese success in the field of economic, industrial and technological growth and development", President Ivanov said.

He told the students to invest in innovation, research and development, in new talents and new technologies and be fully focused on the future.

"We look to the future, and we want to cooperate with friendly China. We want to see more investment from China to Macedonia. If we have been connected by the tradition of the Silk Road, from now on we can be connected by the common path to economic success", President Ivanov said.

Answering students' questions who expressed interest in the economic situation in the Republic of Macedonia, he expressed hope that some of them could come and do business in the Republic of Macedonia.

Before the lecture, during the meeting with the leadership of the University, it was agreed that the cooperation in the field of education should continue.

President Ivanov, according to the interest of the Government to introduce the traditional Chinese medicine in the health care system of the Republic of Macedonia, accompanied by the Minister of Health, Nikola Todorov, met with the leadership of the University of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

At the meeting, concrete steps were agreed for implementation of interest, for exchange of doctors and students so that the traditional Chinese medicine can become part of the student program at the University of Stip.

During the several-day working visit to China, President Ivanov in Beijing met with the President of the People's Republic of China, H.E. Xi Jinping, addressed the reception marking the 20th anniversary since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. He also visited several companies interested in cooperation with Macedonia.

In Chengdu, the Head of the Macedonian State attended the Western China International Forum and delivered a speech on "Balanced Development and Common Prosperity". He met with the Chairman of the Sichuan Provincial People's Congress, Mr. Wang Dongming.