The event "Nizami Ganjavi - the poet of all mankind" was held in Beijing

The event held within the framework of the Year of Nizami Ganjavi was organized by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation jointly with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and the Embassy of Azerbaijan to the People's Republic of China. It was attended by the special representative of the Chinese government for Eurasia Li Hui, ambassadors and the representatives of the diplomatic corps accredited in Beijing and the general public of China. 

The event was inaugurated by the presentation of the bust of Nizami Ganjavi, which was donated by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation for permanent demonstration in the building of the Secretariat of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. This is the second bust to display at the SCO Secretariat after the Chinese thinker Confucius.

The guests got acquainted with the exhibition of illustrations of the works of the genius Azerbaijani poet Nizami Ganjavi that can be seen in famous museums around the world, as well as carpets depicting fragments of the works of the genius poet.

The Secretary-General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Vladimir Norov, speaking at the event, noted that with his “Hemse”, the brilliant Azerbaijani poet and thinker Nizami Ganjavi made a huge contribution to the development of not only eastern but also, the entire world literature. He noted that the creativity of the founder of the eastern renaissance Nizami Ganjavi is immortal and is a common human heritage, while also underlining that the poetry of the East originates from the creativity of Nizami. It was highlighted that Nizami Ganjavi, who served the highest ideas, universal human values ​​and justice, was an ideal person not only for his creativity but also for his way of life. Never leaving his native Ganja, the poet demonstrated great patriotism. Nizami Ganjavi considered moral wealth above anything else.

The SCO Secretary-General noted that many poets continued the path of the genius Nizami Ganjavi in ​​literature and worked under the influence of his works.

Vladimir Norov recalled the solemn ceremony of unveiling a monument to the genius Azerbaijani poet and thinker Nizami Ganjavi in ​​2004 in Tashkent with the participation of the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev. He expressed gratitude to the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the Embassy of Azerbaijan for support in holding an event at the SCO Secretariat dedicated to the 880th anniversary of the birth of the genius Nizami Ganjavi, as well as for the kind gift of a bust of Nizami Ganjavi. He expressed confidence that the poet's bust would inspire the SCO staff, as well as his works praising nobility, mercy and other great human qualities.

Ambassador of Azerbaijan to China Akram Zeynalli noted that Nizami Ganjavi, who is one of the brightest representatives of world literature, glorified high feelings, humanism, nobility, justice in his immortal, incomparable work. Without exaggeration, it can be said that Nizami occupies a place in the same row as the great poets of the world and his works will always be a source of inspiration both for us and for future generations.

Ambassador A.Zeynalli pointed out that Nizami Ganjavi is a unique person who has opened a new page in the chronicle of the creative thinking of mankind with his literary heritage. In the immortal “Hemse”, in which Nizami Ganjavi depicted the life of various peoples, he glorified multicultural values, science, peace and progress. These ideas are also reflected in the activities of the Nizami Ganjavi International Center.

Akram Zeynalli stressed that the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, whose one of the main activities of which is the popularization of Azerbaijani culture in the world, also pays great attention to the promotion of the heritage of the genius poet Nizami Ganjavi. The poet's works have been translated into various languages. Exhibitions and presentations dedicated to Nizami were held in Paris, Strasbourg, Rome, London, Moscow and other major cities of the world.

Ambassador Akram Zeynalli informed that the author of the bust of Nizami Ganjavi in ​​Chaoyang Park in Beijing, sculptor-artist Yuan Xikun was awarded the “Medal of Friendship” by President Ilham Aliyev for his merits in the development of cultural ties between Azerbaijan and China. The diplomat presented the medal and its certificate to the Chinese sculptor.

Yuan Xikun in his address noted that the work of Nizami Ganjavi has universal significance, the poet's thoughts are spiritual food for a person and he feels a sense of pride that he was awarded the “Medal of Friendship” by the President Ilham Aliyev within the Year of Nizami Ganjavi and expressed his deep gratitude to the head of state for this high reward. He stated that he will continue to make every effort to contribute to cultural exchange between the two countries.

The bust of Nizami Ganjavi, placed in one of the largest parks in Beijing Chaoyang, was made by Yuan Xikun in 2012 during the 20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Azerbaijan and China was celebrated.

Next, the event continued with a demonstration of a film on the work of the brilliant poet. Students of the Beijing University of Foreign Languages, studying the speciality "Azerbaijani language", recited pieces from the works of Nizami Ganjavi in ​​Azerbaijani and Chinese languages.

Following the film demonstration, the Amber Quartet, functioning under the Chinese Central Music Conservatory, performed the great works of the Azerbaijani composers Uzeyir Hajibeyli, Kara Karaev, Fikret Amirov and Tofig Guliyev.

The participants of the event have been distributed publications of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation on the cultural heritage of Azerbaijan, which include books, booklets, CDs and works by Nizami Ganjavi.