The international conference Dialogue for Unity and Peace 2026 was held in Skopje from June 22 to June 24, organized by the Office of former Macedonian President Gjorge Ivanov, in cooperation with the International Center Alliance of Civilizations and the Alumni Association of the School for Young Leaders of President Ivanov.
The conference brought together former and current statesmen, diplomats, representatives of international organizations, university professors, researchers, entrepreneurs and young leaders from Europe and Asia, who debated current global challenges, security, economic cooperation, digital transformation and the role of youth in modern society.
At the opening ceremony, former President Gjorge Ivanov noted that in conditions of growing global challenges, peace and stability can only be ensured through dialogue, respect for diversity and shared responsibility. Addresses were also given by Deputy Prime Minister for Political System Ljupcho Dimovski, the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China Jiang Xiaoyan, and the Vice President of the Chinese Association for International Understanding, Liu Hongcai.
Several panel discussions were held within the framework of the conference, dedicated to international peace and security, China’s economic development and cooperation with the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, civilizational dialogue, digital transformation, as well as the role of youth in conditions of rapid global change.
The panels were attended by numerous domestic and foreign experts, former high-ranking officials, academics, and representatives of the business community, who exchanged views on geopolitical challenges, economic cooperation, cultural diplomacy, the impact of artificial intelligence, and the need for greater involvement of youth in social processes.
