The library of the Confucius Institute, opened last year as part of the Skopje University, has been enriched with more than 3,000 books, textbooks, teaching and audiovisual aids donated by the central administration of China's Confucius Institutes.

The editions will be available to nearly 40 Macedonian students studying the Chinese language and culture at the institute.

Minister of Education and Science Spiro Ristovski and Skopje University Rector Velimir Stojkovski visited Friday the Confucius Institute to extend gratitude for the support from China, its embassy in Skopje, the Chengdu Southwestern University of Finance and Economics for opening the institute in Macedonia.

"It's an extremely vital step toward intensifying the cooperation and communication between Macedonia and China, particularly due to the fact that Confucius Institutes are essential centers of Chinese culture, science and education around the globe... The donation for the Confucius Institute in Macedonia is of paramount importance for every interested student or citizen who wants to study Chinese," said Ristovski.

In addition to the classes organized by the Confucius Institute, ties with China are enhanced through various programs - Macedonian students will travel to China to study traditional Chinese medicine and to attend a summer camp held annually.

The institute's director Deng Shizhong said support was being provided by the Education Ministry for the center since its opening.

"The institute aims at improving Chinese language classes, supporting exchanges in culture and education and organizing events that will improve the relations between Macedonia and China in various spheres. Hopefully our activities in Macedonia will instigate love and interest into the Chinese language and culture, which is the objective of this book donation as a gift for the citizens of Macedonia," he noted.