On May 29, 2025, the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) held a "Friendship Ambassador" awarding ceremony in Beijing, awarding the honorary title of "Friendship Ambassador" upon Anar Alakbarov, Assistant to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Executive Director of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation. President Yang Wanming presented the medal and certificate, and met with Anar Alakbarov and his delegation prior to the ceremony. Vice President Jiang Jiang presided over the ceremony. Ambassador Bunyad Huseynov of Azerbaijan to China was also in attendance.
President Yang extended a warm welcome to Anar Alakbarov on his visit to China and praised him and the Heydar Aliyev Foundation for their longstanding dedication to advancing China-Azerbaijan relations. He noted that the two countries share a deep-rooted traditional friendship. In April 2025, at the invitation of President Xi Jinping, President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan paid a state visit to China, during which the two heads of state announced the establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership. This has marked a new chapter in bilateral relations and provided a strategic blueprint for future cooperation. CPAFFC is committed to working with the foundation under the guidance of the leaders' consensus to further promote people-to-people friendship and deliver tangible benefits to two peoples.
President Yang commended Anar Alakbarov for highly valuing the cooperation with China, greatly supporting and personally promoting China-Azerbaijan friendship in his capacity as Executive Director of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, making important contributions to deepening the mutual understanding, trust and friendship between the two peoples. The honorary title of "Friendship Ambassador" is a tribute to Anar Alakbarov's personal efforts and a recognition of the Foundation's sustained commitment to friendship with China. The CPAFFC looks forward to more individuals stepping forward as ambassadors of goodwill, bringing warmth and energy to the continued development of China-Azerbaijan relations. It is also believed that the CPAFFC and the Foundation will jointly write a new and more vibrant chapter in people-to-people friendship between China and Azerbaijan.
Anar Alakbarov expressed Azerbaijan's high regard for the relations with China and his appreciation for the notable achievements in bilateral cooperation in recent years. The Heydar Aliyev Foundation takes the CPAFFC as an important partner, and this collaboration has been formally included in the joint statement signed between the two heads of state not long ago. The Foundation is committed to strengthening cooperation with CPAFFC in diverse areas including industry, subnational engagement, youth exchanges, and cultural and artistic collaboration, so as to serve the development of bilateral relations. He thanked CPAFFC for the "Friendship Ambassador" title, describing it as both a personal honor and a symbol of recognition for the Foundation's contributions to China-Azerbaijan friendship. He pledged to continue working tirelessly to support and expand bilateral people-to-people exchanges.
The honorary title of "Friendship Ambassador" was established by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries in 1990. It is awarded to international individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the advancement of friendship between China and other countries.
