On September 28, 2023, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to Azerbaijan, Ms. Guo Min, organized a grand reception at the Gulistan Palace in Baku to celebrate the 74th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. Approximately 600 people attended the event, including Deputy Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Shahin Mustafayev. Distinguished guests from the Presidential Office, National Assembly, various political parties, the Cabinet, and government departments, as well as renowned figures from all walks of life, diplomatic envoys to Azerbaijan, and representatives of overseas Chinese, Chinese-funded institutions, and overseas Chinese students in Azerbaijan, were welcomed at the event.

The reception kicked off with the echoing of the national anthems of China and Azerbaijan. In a warm and impassioned speech, Ambassador Guo Min reviewed the marvelous accomplishments China has achieved in the past 74 years since its founding. In her speech, she emphasized that uniting and leading the people of all ethnic groups in China, the Communist Party of China has remained true to their original aspirations and has worked hard to embark on the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics. The Chinese nation has achieved a tremendous transformation, from standing up, growing rich to becoming strong. Its great rejuvenation has become part of an irreversible historical process. The 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China concluded successfully last October. It established that the central task of the Communist Party of China will be to lead the Chinese people of all ethnic groups in a concerted effort to realize the Second Centenary Goal of building China into a great modern socialist country in all respects, and to advance the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through a Chinese path to modernization. This is a grand blueprint for China’s future development.

According to Ambassador Guo Min, the relationship between China and Azerbaijan has survived the baptism of time and the challenges from capriciousness in international situations over the past 31 years, since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two sides. China and Azerbaijan have been working hard to strengthen their political mutual trust and strategic collaboration, expand their mutually beneficial cooperation, and consolidate their long-lasting friendship. These two countries have become close friends and partners with a shared destiny, and they are determined to continue their efforts in deepening their relationship. The successful meeting of President Xi Jinping and President Aliyev during the Samarkand Summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization last September set the direction for the future development of bilateral relations. China and Azerbaijan have experienced an upsurge in bilateral high-level exchanges in 2023. China and Azerbaijan have been making significant progress in co-building the Belt and Road, in addition to the frequent high-level reciprocal visits between the two countries. The two nations have established a sister-city relationship between several provinces and cities, and there have been increasing people-to-people and cultural exchanges between them. Meanwhile, bilateral trade and investment cooperation have continued to expand in depth and breadth. China expresses its willingness to collaborate with the government of Azerbaijan and friendly people from all walks of life to enhance the China-Azerbaijan relations to a higher level. It aims to create a community of a shared future for China and Azerbaijan in this new era.

In his speech, Deputy Prime Minister Mustafayev extended his sincere greetings and congratulations to the friendly Chinese people on the anniversary. As he mentioned, the friendship between Azerbaijan and China has lasted for a long time, and China was one of the first countries to recognize Azerbaijan’s independence. Thanks to the significant efforts made by the two heads of state, Azerbaijan and China have witnessed increasingly deepened political mutual trust between each other, fruitful outcomes in their cooperation in a wide range of fields, and closer international collaboration. The Azerbaijan-China relations are fully energized, comprehensively developed, and have reached unprecedented heights. Azerbaijan is willing to cooperate with China to push forward their bilateral relationship to a higher level.

The reception was carried out in a warm and friendly atmosphere. Chinese cultural promotional videos, including China Beyond Imagination, A Glimpse of Sichuan Brings to You Half of China, and Beautiful China, were played in a loop at the venue, showcasing the great accomplishments China has achieved over the 74 years since its founding and its beautiful sceneries. At the event, artists from Azerbaijan Dance Ensemble “Land of Fire” and Azerbaijan Wing Chun Federation performed traditional dances from China and Azerbaijan as well as Chinese martial arts, drawing rounds of applause from the audience. All the guests expressed their congratulations on the 74th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. Speaking highly of China’s remarkable achievements in its development, they all looked forward to the continuation of the friendly cooperation between China and Azerbaijan to a new height.

Azertag, AzTV, CBC, and other mainstream media widely reported on this event.