On January 10, 2019, "the Heart Road" meeting was successfully launched in the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi 'an Jiaotong University. Dr. Waqar Ahmed, Director of the Cardiology Center of King Fahd Armed Forces Hospital in Saudi Arabia, was invited to our hospital for academic exchanges. Professor Yuan Zuyi, Vice President of the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi 'an Jiaotong University, warmly welcomed Dr. Waqar’s visit to Xi’an, which built a bridge between the two countries in the field of coronary intervention.

Professor Guo Ning, Deputy Director of the Department of Cardiology of our hospital delivered in-depth discussions with Dr. Waqar on the coronary interventional treatment in both countries. Professor Guo Ning also shared the development history and future prospects of Department of Cardiology and the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi 'an Jiaotong University. Professor Dr. Waqar was pleased and amazed after hearing a large number of chest pain centers have been established in China, which properly reflected the cooperation and management levels among hospitals. The two sides delivered warm and in-depth discussions and exchanges on the surgical strategy for the unprotected left main disease and the diagnosis and treatment of acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. During the meeting, Vice President Yuan Zuyi conferred the honorary title of "The Belt and Road Pioneer" to the distinguished Dr. Waqar for his valuable contributions. In turn, Dr. Waqar presented the Sino-Saudi Friendship Commemorative Plate to Professor Yuan Zuyi and Professor Guo Ning.

After the academic exchange activities, Dr. Waqar visited the Department of Cardiology, watched the live demonstration of CTO surgery in the Catheter Room accompanied by Professor Guo Ning and jointly discussed the surgical plans for complicated cases. Both the two sides expected to establish a closer partnership between two hospitals, share academic achievements on a broader platform and strengthen the cooperation between China and Saudi Arabia in the field of coronary intervention. The academic exchanges during "the Belt and Road" will create more possibilities for subsequent development and communication between the two countries.