Ilkin Ismayilov, a 3rd year student and Ziba Sadigli, 2nd year student of the Japanese Studies specialty of the School of Regional studies and internatinal relations at the Azerbaijan University of Languages (AUL) participated in the V International Japanese Language Contest of GUAM Countries, which was held at Georgia's Free University. 18 students from Azerbaijan, Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Belarus and Armenia participated in the competition, which was attended by Jashar Ibrahimov, head of the Japan Research Center at AUL.

Ilkin Ismayilov was awarded 3rd place and Ziba Sadigli won V place at the competition supported by the International Japanese Foundation.

At the end of the event it was decided to hold the VI International Japanese Language Contest of GUAM in Ukraine.