On January 22, the Confucius Institute at Ss. Cyril and Methodius University was invited to attend the Chinese New Year Reception hosted by the Chinese Embassy in the Republic of Macedonia and was warmly welcomed by the Embassy staff. Macedonian Foreign Minister Nikola Dimitrovand officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs attended the reception. The Chairman of the Macedonian-Chinese Association for Friendship and CooperationLjupcho Malenkov, all of the members of Macedonian-Chinese Association for Friendship and Cooperation Presidium andmore than 200 invitees attendedthe reception.
H.E. Yin Lixian, Ambassador of PR China in R. Macedonia, greeted the guests and in her speech introduced Chinese Lunar New Year traditions. She also spoke about China’s significant achievements in areas such as economic growth, povertyreduction, public services in the past year. She stressed that 2019 is the 70th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China and that the Chinese Governmentwill continue to promote reform and opening up to the outside world in order toachieve great development.
Ambassador Yin pointed out that the relationship between China and Macedonia in 2018was exceptional. The two countries celebrated the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relation and the two prime ministers had a second meeting in Sofia. The bilateral cultural exchangehas expanded and has been extraordinary: the China-Central and Eastern European Countries Cultural Cooperation Coordination Center was establishedin Macedonia, while the Fifth High-Level Think Tanks Symposium of China and Central and Eastern European Countrieswas also held in Macedonia.
Finally, Ambassador Yin expressed her gratitude tothe employees of Chinese companies working in Macedonia, Confucius Institute staff and teachers and overseas Chinese for their contributions to the development of Sino-Macedonian friendship and close ties. She wished both China and Macedonia great achievements in the New Year,and the further development of close cooperation. She wishedall the guests and their familieshappiness and prosperity in the Year of the Pig.
In the New Year, the Confucius Institute at Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje will continue to successfully carry out its teaching programs and cultural events and activities with the support of the Chinese Embassy in Macedonia in order to meaningfully contribute the Sino-Macedonian friendship and close ties.
(By Qiu Jinghan, Wuyingjuan)