On April 20, International Chinese Language Day was celebrated with great ceremony at the Azerbaijan University of Languages (AUL).

The event, organized by the Confucius Institute operating at AUL, began with the national anthems of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the People’s Republic of China. It was noted that International Chinese Language Day, observed annually on April 20, was established in 2010 by the United Nations Department of Public Information to promote the equal use of the UN’s six official languages.

Rector of AUL, academician Kamal Abdulla, welcomed the participants and expressed his pleasure at seeing the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Azerbaijan, Ms. Lu Mei, along with other Chinese guests, at the university. Speaking about the significance of the day, he подчеркнул that Chinese characters, which emerged five thousand years ago, have played a vital role in the development of world culture. He also noted that the Great Silk Road was not only a trade route but also a path of spiritual exchange.

In her speech, Ambassador Lu Mei thanked the teachers and students of AUL for organizing the event and spoke about the history of International Chinese Language Day. She highlighted that in recent years, under the strategic leadership of President Xi Jinping and President Ilham Aliyev, China-Azerbaijan relations have been elevated to the level of a comprehensive strategic partnership. Economic and trade cooperation between the two countries has steadily expanded, and mutual friendship has deepened.

Emphasizing that Chinese is the most widely spoken language in the world, the ambassador noted that more than 8,000 people in Azerbaijan have registered to study the language. At the same time, Azerbaijani studies are actively conducted at many Chinese universities. She also mentioned that more than 60,000 Chinese citizens visited Azerbaijan in 2025. “Looking ahead, China-Azerbaijan relations have broad prospects, and there is great potential for learning Chinese. The Chinese Embassy in Azerbaijan will continue to provide opportunities and support for everyone to learn the Chinese language and better understand Chinese culture,” she added.

Following the speeches, an engaging concert program was presented by teachers and students of the Confucius Institute at AUL. Musical performances in Chinese added a special atmosphere to the event and were warmly received by the audience. Guests also explored an exhibition dedicated to Chinese culture and participated in master classes.