Dr. Agshin Aliyev from BFSU. (COURTESY PHOTO)

By BI Weizi

Having been committed to strengthening exchanges and cooperation between China and Azerbaijan through language and culture teaching in both countries for many years, Dr. Agshin Aliyev, an Azerbaijani sinologist, has gained an insightful perspective on China's rapid development at all levels.

He hails China as a country that assumes greater responsibility for enhancing regional connectivity and embracing a brighter future, especially with the launch of Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in 2013.

Azerbaijan is one of the first countries to join the BRI and is now an indispensable link in the Initiative.

"China and Azerbaijan have a very long history of cultural exchanges dating back to the establishment of the Silk Road. Now the cooperation between the two countries has been deepened since the BRI," said Aliyev, adding that not only economic and trade cooperation, but also educational and cultural exchanges between the two countries are improved in leaps and bounds, and tangible benefits have been brought to their people.

Commenting on the upcoming Two Sessions, Aliyev emphasised their importance not only for the Chinese people, but also for the world. "The great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is the expectation of ordinary people. The Chinese government is made up of experienced politicians and administrators who understand the feelings of the people and work for the benefit of the people," he said.

As China remains committed to its reform and opening-up policy, more fruitful results will be achieved in the future. The whole world will gain useful knowledge as China continues to share its experience in lifting millions of people out of poverty and mitigating climate change, said Aliyev.

Aliyev is a founder and head of the Department of Azerbaijani Language at Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU) and a visiting scholar at the Chinese Culture Research Center of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. He is also the founder and director of the China Research Center at Khazar University.