Baku: Heydar Aliyev Foundation Vice-President Leyla Aliyeva and Baku Media Center Head Arzu Aliyeva presented certificates to 20 students on August 30, marking the successful completion of the first stage of the regular distance Chinese language courses at the Heydar Aliyev Center.
According to Trend News Agency, the initiative, supported by Leyla Aliyeva, is a collaborative effort involving the Azerbaijan State University of Economics (UNEC), the Confucius Institute at Azerbaijan University of Languages, and Beijing Foreign Studies University. These courses have been available at UNEC since 2019, with the third intake of students beginning in December 2024.
Adalat Muradov, Rector of UNEC, lauded the rapid growth in interest for these courses, which have been conducted remotely since their inception. He noted that this format has provided access to Azerbaijanis both domestically and internationally, with applications increasing significantly at each stage.
Kamal Abdulla, Rector of the Azerbaijan University of Languages, emphasized the historical significance of cultural exchange between China and the West, with Azerbaijan playing a pivotal role. He advocated for the study of Chinese culture, language, and the philosophical heritage of figures like Confucius and Laozi.
Course graduates Turana Kamalova and Aydan Gurbanova highlighted the personal development opportunities afforded by the distance learning format. The courses are accessible to Azerbaijanis worldwide, and the Heydar Aliyev Foundation sponsors the tuition for families of martyrs, veterans, and those from vulnerable groups. Participants range in age from 14 to 74 years old.
The event concluded with an artistic program featuring performances by the course participants.