On the afternoon of October 26^th, the President of the Czech Republic, Miloš Zeman, visited RUC and gave a speech on shared Czech, European, and Chinese political, cultural, and economic issues. In his speech, he borrowed Keynesian theory to analyze the different economic trends in investment and consumption between Asia and Europe. He pointed to the short-sightedness of politicians with respect to investment, which can make the continuity of investment difficult in the long-term. He said that this short-sightedness is due to human nature, not national differences. In order to continue to progress standards of living, it is necessary to look towards long-term investment and economic growth. RUC President Chen Yulu welcomed President Zeman on the behalf of all teachers and students. He said that since the Czech Republic and China established diplomatic relations 65 years ago, bilateral cooperation in the fields of economics, science, and education has developed rapidly and continuously. President Zeman’s visit to RUC has a profound impact on furthering these exchanges between China and the Czech Republic. Students and professors from the School of International Studies, School of Foreign Languages, School of Public Administration, School of Economics, School of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development, and the Chongyang Institute of Financial Studies posed questions to the President about how to apply their studies in a Czech cultural context, possible bilateral relations between the two countries such as possible space exploration, the internationalization of the RMB, the “middle income trap” that the Czech Republic has experienced, the Czech Republic’s economic transformation, and other issues. President Zeman said that, despite the tumultuous Czech diplomatic relations of the time, the two countries were able to maintain long-term cooperation and promote beneficial diplomatic development due to their mutual desire to uphold the Confucian concept of “harmony without uniformity.” After the meeting, President Chen gave President Zeman a plaque with the RUC logo on it, a work of art created by students from the School of Arts, and a copy of Yan Lianke’s novel. President Zeman again congratulated Professor Yan and expressed gratitude for the gifts. Vice President Yi Zhihong, Vice Chairman Wu Fulai, Assistant President Zheng Shuiquan, Director of the International Office Zhang Xiaojing, and Deputy Director of the Institute of Russia, Eastern Europe and Central Asia Studies Xu Qinhua were in attendance. President Zeman was also accompanied by a distinguished delegation of high-ranking Czech officials. In commemoration of the establishment of Sino-Czech relations 65 years ago, President Xi Jinping invited President Zeman to pay a state visit to China from the 24^th to the 27^th of October. Founded 50 years ago at RUC, the Institute of Russia, Eastern Europe and Central Asia Studies is one of the oldest institutes of higher research dedicated to studying Eastern Europe. Since 1998, when Charles University in Prague established an exchange with Renmin University, the two countries have had close academic links. Since 2010, there have been 9 Czech international students from President Zeman’s alma mater, the University of Economics in Prague. Currently there are 3 Czech international students studying at RUC. On October 22^nd, RUC Professor Yan Lianke was awarded the Franz Kafka Literary Award in Prague City Hall. The award, which commemorates the achievements of Czech writer Franz Kafka, was awarded to a Chinese author for the first time in 14 years. President Zeman was born on September 28, 1944 in the Czech Republic (then Czechoslovakia). In 1969, he graduated from the University of Economics in Prague. From 1993 to 2001, he was the Chairman of the Czech Social Democratic Party. From 1996 to 1998, he served as Speaker of the House of the Czech Parliament. From 1998 to 2002, he served as Prime Minister. In March 2013, he became the President of the Czech Republic.