Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences

President of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS), Academician Isa Habibbayli, met with a delegation from Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU) led by the university’s Vice-Rector, Professor Gao Gang.

At the meeting held at the Presidium of ANAS, Academician Isa Habibbayli noted that relations between Azerbaijan and China are built on solid foundations and that the head of state attaches special importance to cooperation with Beijing. Emphasizing Azerbaijan’s support for China’s internationally significant “Belt and Road” initiative, he said that the opening of the Zangezur Corridor would make an important contribution to the implementation of this project.

Academician Isa Habibbayli pointed out that scientific cooperation between the two countries has also developed in recent years. He highlighted ANAS’s close partnership with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the Hebei Academy of Social Sciences, the Hong Kong Korea Academy, Beijing Foreign Studies University, and Hebei Normal University. He also mentioned that the Center for Chinese Studies operates within the Nizami Ganjavi Institute of Literature of ANAS, where for the first time in Azerbaijan, a PhD dissertation on Sino-Azerbaijani literary relations was defended by researcher Nargiz Karimova. In addition, he noted that the Chinese language is taught at the center and that several staff members have attended language training courses in China.

Academician Isa Habibbayli underlined that ANAS attaches particular importance to cooperation with Beijing Foreign Studies University, noting that the existence of an Azerbaijani Language Department at the university reflects China’s respect for Azerbaijan. Recalling his visit to China, where he gave a master class to Chinese students studying Azerbaijani language, he said that valuable publications were donated to the department’s library by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and ANAS. He also mentioned the special contributions of Associate Professor Aghshin Aliyev, PhD in Philology, who initiated the teaching of Azerbaijani language as a major at BFSU.

The ANAS president invited Chinese students currently attending advanced training courses in Baku to visit the Academy and attend lectures by Azerbaijani scholars. He expressed confidence that future cooperation would lead to the publication of significant works and translations on Azerbaijani and Chinese literature.

Speaking next, Professor Gao Gang, Vice-Rector of Beijing Foreign Studies University, said it was his first visit to Azerbaijan and expressed gratitude for the warm hospitality. Conveying greetings from the university administration, he noted that he was impressed by the interest in China in Azerbaijan. Professor Gao Gang stated that Azerbaijani language teaching began at the university in 2017, and that the first graduates have already become professionals, with two of them now working as instructors at the Azerbaijani Language Department of BFSU. He added that these graduates are developing as Azerbaijani studies specialists and will serve as a bridge for expanding future academic cooperation between the two countries.

He also mentioned that students of the second cohort of the department are currently taking advanced training courses in Baku, emphasizing that young Chinese learners are mastering the Azerbaijani language and will contribute to the field of literary translation, which still lacks sufficient resources.

Later, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences and Beijing Foreign Studies University. The document was signed by Academician Isa Habibbayli and Professor Gao Gang.

After the signing ceremony, the sides exchanged gifts and took commemorative photographs.

The meeting was also attended by Professor Su Yingying, Dean of the Faculty of Asian Studies at BFSU; Associate Professor Aghshin Aliyev, PhD in Philology and Head of the Azerbaijani Language Department of the same faculty; Associate Professor Esmira Alirzayeva, PhD in Biology and Head of the Department for Foreign Relations and International Scientific Organizations of the ANAS Presidium; and Associate Professor Agahuseyn Shukurov, PhD in Philology and Head of the Department of Public Relations, Press, and Information.

The guests also visited the Presidium building of ANAS and the Chinese Studies Center at the Nizami Ganjavi Institute of Literature.

Translation by Gulhane Aghayeva, Department of Public Relations, Press, and Information, Presidium of ANAS.

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