Baku: Leyla Aliyeva and Arzu Aliyeva met with students enrolled in the distance Chinese language education program at the Azerbaijan State University of Economics (UNEC) as part of the program’s latest phase.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, the event also saw participation from Ding Tao, Charg© d’Affaires of the People’s Republic of China in Azerbaijan, along with UNEC’s faculty and student body.

UNEC Rector, Professor Adalat Muradov, welcomed the guests and expressed appreciation towards Leyla and Arzu Aliyeva for their support. Ding Tao highlighted the thriving relationship between Azerbaijan and China, acknowledging the role of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, led by Leyla Aliyeva, in facilitating the distance Chinese language courses since 2019. These courses, part of the Confucius Institute’s framework at Azerbaijan University of Languages, have educated over 500 students so far. Ding Tao also noted the foundation’s contributions to bilateral cooperation and the preservation of national identity.

Dr. Agshin Aliyev of Beijing Foreign Studies University, participating virtually, noted the evolution of the Distance Chinese Language Teaching Center since its inception. He commended Leyla Aliyeva’s involvement as a significant motivator and remarked on the growing interest in Chinese language studies in Azerbaijan and vice versa.

During the program, Leyla and Arzu Aliyeva explored an exhibition at UNEC’s library showcasing Chinese culture. The event concluded with students expressing gratitude and best wishes to the Aliyevas.

Organized since 2019, the distance learning program at UNEC, backed by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, UNEC, the Confucius Institute, and Beijing Foreign Studies University, spans three months per level and covers comprehensive language and cultural education. The curriculum is designed to align with the HSK (Chinese Language Proficiency Test), enabling students to take the proficiency exam upon course completion.