An official reception was held on May 28, 2025, organized by the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the People's Republic of China and supported by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation to mark May 28, Independence Day. The ceremony was attended by Anar Alakbarov, Assistant to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Executive Director of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, who was on an official visit to Beijing that day, as well as Sultan Mammadov, Member of the National Assembly of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Head of the Azerbaijan-China Inter-Parliamentary Relations Working Group. Also present were Chinese officials, heads of diplomatic missions in Beijing, representatives of the Chinese public, and our compatriots living in this country.

In his speech, Ambassador Bunyad Huseynov stated that under President Ilham Aliyev's leadership, Azerbaijan has rapidly become the region's most politically stable and economically advanced country. During President Ilham Aliyev's state visit to the People's Republic of China from April 22 to 24, 2025, our heads of state signed a "Joint Statement on Establishing Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Relations between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the People's Republic of China." Cooperation is being developed across the economy, transport and logistics, industry, agriculture, trade, the service sector, construction, green energy, and digital technologies. Azerbaijan's transport arteries, modern infrastructure, the Baku International Sea Trade Port, the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway line, and other projects form the shortest and most efficient routes for cargo between China and Europe. The realization of the Zangezur Corridor initiative will be Azerbaijan's next contribution to the "Belt and Road Initiative." Numerous events promoting Azerbaijani culture in China and Chinese culture in Azerbaijan create opportunities for our peoples to grow closer. The Heydar Aliyev Foundation, together with its Chinese partners, particularly the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, is successfully implementing projects to expand humanitarian cooperation between our countries.

Liu Bin, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China, emphasized that the hardworking Azerbaijani people have created a unique and splendid culture. Under the strong leadership of President Mr. Ilham Aliyev, Azerbaijan's economy is developing rapidly, its society remains stable, its international influence is significantly increasing, and its people live in prosperity and happiness. As a good friend and partner, China sincerely rejoices in Azerbaijan's progress. During President Mr. Ilham Aliyev's successful state visit to China, our heads of state announced the establishment of a China-Azerbaijan comprehensive strategic partnership. Thus, within a year, bilateral relations have achieved two major leaps. Humanitarian and cultural exchanges and cooperation between China and Azerbaijan are growing continuously. With the implementation of the mutual visa-free policy, people from both countries can travel to each other's countries at any time. The Chinese side is ready to work with the Azerbaijani side to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, achieve more results in mutually beneficial cooperation, and continuously enrich the substance of the China-Azerbaijan comprehensive strategic partnership. On behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, I extend my congratulations and best wishes to all our friends from Azerbaijan on the occasion of Independence Day. I also express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who supports the friendship between China and Azerbaijan.