Category: Azer News

The Azerbaijan State Academic National Drama Theatre has embarked on a new stage of international collaboration, establishing ties with the National Drama Theatres of the People’s Republic of China, Azernews reports.

This initiative follows the Culture Ministry’s roadmap to strengthen cultural diplomacy and deepen artistic exchange.

The theatre’s director, Honoured Cultural Worker Ilham Asgarov, is currently visiting China, where he has held meetings with leading institutions, including the National Drama Theatres of Gansu and Shandong provinces, as well as the Grand National Drama Theatre of Shandong.

A key outcome of the visit was the signing of a memorandum of cooperation between the Gansu National Drama Theatre and Azerbaijan’s Academic National Drama Theatre.

The agreement outlines plans to promote national dramaturgy in both countries, organise master classes and creative workshops, arrange tours of artistic ensembles, and implement joint cultural projects.

The Gansu Theatre Director Wei Shoulin expressed strong interest in the partnership, praising the initiative as a valuable step in fostering mutual understanding and artistic growth.

At the signing ceremony, Ilham Asgarov thanked the Ministries of Culture of Azerbaijan and China for their support in strengthening theatre relations. He emphasised that the collaboration would contribute significantly to the development of cultural ties:

“Thanks to President Ilham Aliyev’s successful cultural policies, Azerbaijan has built effective partnerships with many countries. Azerbaijan-China relations are actively developing, and recent agreements in cultural diplomacy have created opportunities for joint projects in art, museum work, and heritage preservation.”

He highlighted the importance of the “Protocol on Cultural Cooperation” signed in Beijing for 2025-2029, noting that it paves the way for deeper integration in theatre arts.

Asgarov also pointed out that one of the goals of cooperation is to explore China’s modern theatre technologies, with the possibility of showcasing and applying them in Azerbaijan:

“I am confident that this collaboration will bring new energy to the theatre life of both countries and make a worthy contribution to the development of cultural relations between our peoples,” he said.

During the visit, rehearsals at Shandong’s Grand Theatre and National Drama Theatre were observed, and discussions were held on prospects of cooperation.

This partnership marks a significant step in strengthening Azerbaijan-China cultural diplomacy, promising to enrich the theatre traditions of both nations and foster closer ties between their peoples.

The Azerbaijan State Academic National Drama Theatre is the oldest and most prestigious theatre in Azerbaijan.

The roots of the Azerbaijan State Academic National Drama Theatre (Az?rbaycan Akademik Milli Dram Teatri) go back to March 10, 1873, when educator Hasan bey Zardabi and students of the Baku Real School staged Mirza Fatali Akhundov’s comedy ‘The Vizier of the Lankaran Khanate’. This performance is widely regarded as the birth of professional Azerbaijani theatre.

By the late 19th century, organised theatre groups such as the First Muslim Drama Troupe (1896) and the Union of Artists (1897) laid the foundation for a professional stage tradition. In 1919, the theatre was officially granted State status, and in 1959 it received the title of Academic Theatre, recognising its national importance.

In recent years, the theatre has expanded its global reach by signing memorandums of cooperation with international theatres. The theatre also actively promotes cultural exchange through tours, workshops, and joint productions.

The Azerbaijan Center for the Development of Cultural and Creative Industries (Yaradici M?rk?z), the Turkic Animation Association (ATA), and the Uzbek Creative Association (UzCA) have signed a trilateral memorandum of cooperation aimed at developing the animation and gaming industries, Azernews reports.

The signed memorandum is considered an important strategic step toward strengthening the creative sectors of Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan.

The document ??????????????? the creation of new opportunities in the fields of animation and video games, support for professional training, the implementation of joint projects, and the stimulation of sustainable development of creative industries on a regional scale.

Within the framework of the agreement, the parties will cooperate in developing joint animation and gaming projects, organizing educational and mentoring programs, supporting young talents, and expanding creative collaboration at both regional and international levels.

This partnership will make a significant contribution to the development of young professionals, the emergence of new projects in the animation and gaming industries, and the strengthening of creative ties between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan.

The memorandum is concluded for a period of three years and may be extended by mutual consent of the parties.

This cooperation will serve as a strong stimulus for the formation of a new ecosystem in the region’s creative industries.

For the first time, the United Nations will celebrate World Turkic Language Family Day on December 15, Azernews reports citing the United Nations.

Following the decision of UNESCO – the UN’s cultural agency at its General Conference held in Samarkand, the organization is preparing to mark World Turkic Language Family Day for the first time on Monday. The newly designated day highlights the common language and cultural heritage of Turkic-speaking peoples and reinforces UNESCO’s broader commitment to multilingualism and cultural diversity.

“The choice of 15 December is rooted in a landmark moment in linguistic scholarship. On that day in 1893, Danish linguist Vilhelm Thomsen announced he had deciphered the alphabet of the Orkhon Inscriptions – some of the oldest known written records of the Turkic language family.

His breakthrough opened the door to a deeper understanding of a linguistic tradition that today connects dozens of communities across Eurasia.

Turkic languages – including Azerbaijani, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Turkish, Turkmen and Uzbek – are spoken natively by more than 200 million people across an area stretching roughly 12 million square kilometres.

UNESCO notes that these languages carry a rich written heritage, strong oral traditions and diverse cultural practices shared across many Member States.

The proclamation of the new Day followed a joint request from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Trkiye and Uzbekistan and was supported by 21 Member States, reflecting broad recognition of the value of linguistic diversity,” said in the statement.

UNESCO says the annual observance aligns with the UN’s wider multilingualism agenda, set out in General Assembly resolution 71/328.

By dedicating a day to the Turkic language family, the agency aims to encourage linguistic cooperation, cultural exchange and dialogue among civilizations.

Planned activities include awareness-raising initiatives, academic research and programmes to safeguard Turkic languages and oral traditions.

It was noted that the day will be marked with exhibitions, lectures, literary events and artistic performances designed to showcase the historical depth and contemporary vitality of Turkic languages.

UNESCO says the commemoration is an opportunity to honour linguistic diversity as part of humanity’s common heritage and to strengthen international efforts to protect languages as essential vehicles of identity, knowledge and cultural expression.

Vietnam aims to increase the proportion of its intellectual workforce in high-tech and strategic industries to 25 percent by 2030, Azernews reports, citing foreign media.

This goal is outlined in a newly issued national strategy for developing the intellectual workforce during the country’s accelerated industrialization and modernization through 2030, with a vision extending to 2045.

Under the strategy, the number of full-time personnel engaged in scientific research, technological development, and innovation is expected to reach 12 per 10,000 people by 2030.

The proportion of students pursuing studies in basic sciences, engineering, and technology is set to rise to at least 35 percent, including a target of 6,000 doctoral candidates and 20,000 participants in talent-focused programs.

Additionally, the strategy seeks to attract around 1,000 outstanding Vietnamese intellectuals living abroad to contribute through academic exchanges, research collaborations, training, and technology transfer at home, supported by flexible working arrangements.

Experts highlight that this ambitious plan could position Vietnam as a regional hub for innovation, potentially boosting its competitiveness in cutting-edge fields such as artificial intelligence, renewable energy, and advanced manufacturing.

While many emerging economies struggle to maintain investor interest, Azerbaijan has recorded solid investment growth across multiple sectors. The distribution of capital in 2025 underscores a shift toward balanced development and broader sectoral engagement. Recent data shows that capital is steadily gravitating toward non-oil sectors, reinforcing the state’s broader diversification strategy.

Azerbaijan’s economy continued to attract substantial investment in 2025, driven by both domestic capital and growing foreign participation in the country’s economic transformation. Data from the State Statistics Committee shows that 16,658.9 million manats (approximately US$ 9.8 billion) was invested in fixed capital across economic and social sectors in January-November 2025, marking a continued commitment to expansion and diversification.

Of this total, 4,717.5 million manats (roughly US$ 2.8 billion) was allocated to the oil and gas sector, while 11,941.4 million manats (around US$ 7.0 billion) flowed into the non-oil and gas economy. Within the latter, 2,107.2 million manats (about US$ 1.24 billion), equivalent to 12.6 percent of all investments, was directed specifically to non-oil and gas industrial activities, illustrating a notable shift toward diversified sectors such as manufacturing, services and construction.

Foreign investment also showed strong momentum. In the first 11 months of 2025, 3,592.6 million manats (approximately US$ 2.1 billion) originated from foreign countries and international organizations, an increase of more than 31 percent compared with the same period last year. This rise in foreign capital reflects increased international confidence in Azerbaijan’s investment climate and economic trajectory.

Investors from a broad array of countries participated in this influx, with the United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, Trkiye, Russia, United States, Switzerland, Japan, Iran, Hungary, France and India among the top sources of foreign funds. This geographical diversification underscores renewed global interest in Azerbaijan’s economic potential and its openness to international partnerships.

Earlier in 2025, foreign capital flows had already demonstrated significant growth. By mid-year, more than 2,000 million manats (about US$ 1.18 billion) was invested in fixed capital from abroad – a roughly 30 percent annual increase, with the vast majority coming from major economies including the UK, UAE, Trkiye, and others. Over the first half of the year, investment in the non-oil and gas sector grew even more rapidly than hydrocarbon investment.

The increase in foreign and domestic investment comes amid broader structural shifts in Azerbaijan’s economy. Non-oil and gas sectors have been steadily gaining traction as the government pursues diversification goals. Targeted reforms aimed at improving the legal and institutional environment have enhanced the country’s investment attractiveness, encouraging both local and foreign firms to expand their presence in manufacturing, services, and other productive areas.

Policy initiatives that simplify business registration, reform tax regimes, protect investor rights, and promote export-oriented industries have played a role in reinforcing confidence. A number of international rating agencies, including Moody’s and Fitch Ratings, have pointed to improving macroeconomic fundamentals and a growing non-oil base as positive factors for long-term economic resilience.

Capital flows are not one-directional. Azerbaijani residents continued to invest substantial amounts abroad in 2025. In January-September, nationals invested US$ 2,038 million in foreign economies, reflecting increasing outbound economic engagement. Israel topped the list due to participation in large energy projects such as the Tamar gas field, where US$ 542.6 million was directed in a single quarter. Other significant Azerbaijani investments abroad included US$ 289 million in Trkiye, US$ 250 million in the United Arab Emirates, US$ 176 million in the United Kingdom, and US$ 118 million in Italy.

At the same time, foreign residents invested US$ 4,736 million directly into Azerbaijan in the reporting period. The United Kingdom led inbound direct investments with US$ 1,243 million, followed by Trkiye (US$ 632 million), South Cyprus (US$ 543 million), Switzerland (US$ 384 million) and Iran (US$ 272 million). These figures reflect reciprocal confidence in Azerbaijan as both an investment destination and a source of outbound capital.

Azerbaijan’s investment trends in 2025 demonstrate that diversification efforts are extending beyond rhetoric into real economic patterns. Growth in non-oil investment, both domestic and foreign, suggests that sectors such as industry, services, tourism and construction are increasingly attractive for long-term capital commitment.

At the same time, foreign participation from a diverse set of countries indicates growing international engagement. This helps reduce vulnerability to geopolitical and commodity price volatility and supports the development of new export markets, technology transfer and broader economic linkages.

International forecasts also point to continued investment interest in Azerbaijan, driven by reforms, strategic location, and integration into global value chains. Major infrastructure initiatives, such as transport and logistics corridors, and participation in regional economic platforms also enhance the country’s appeal to global investors.

The investment data for 2025 shows a dynamic Azerbaijani economy that is increasingly opening up to global capital flows while cultivating its internal capacity for growth. The significant share of foreign investment, growing non-oil sector spending, and expanding outbound investment by Azerbaijani residents together portray an economy that is becoming more interconnected with global markets.

If these trends continue, Azerbaijan may see deeper structural transformation that strengthens economic resilience, supports job creation, and fosters sustainable long-term growth. This evolution reflects both proactive domestic policies and increasing confidence among international investors in the country’s economic prospects.

The largest Battery Energy Storage Centres in the CIS are set to be commissioned in Azerbaijan’s Absheron and Agdash regions in the coming months.

Azernews reports, citing Azerenergy OJSC, that work on the creation of large-scale Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) is progressing rapidly as part of Azerbaijan’s strategy to support the dynamic development of renewable energy sources. These facilities, which will be the largest in the CIS in terms of both capacity and power, are being constructed at the 500 kV ‘Absheron’ substation near Baku and the 220 kV ‘Agdash’ substation in the central region of the country.

The first batch of battery storage systems, with a total capacity of 250 megawatts and an energy capacity of 500 megawatt-hours, has already been delivered to Azerbaijan. The equipment was manufactured at the Great Power plant in China and transported via a complex maritime route before reaching Turkey’s Gemlik Port, from where it was delivered by land through Turkey and Georgia to Azerbaijan.

Each battery unit weighs 36 tons and was transported and installed under special supervision. To date, around 15 per cent of the systems have been delivered, with the remaining 85 per cent expected to arrive and be installed by April.

According to Azerenergy, the establishment of these Battery Storage Centres is of strategic importance for strengthening the stability of the national energy system. The systems will help maintain stable frequency, balance fluctuations in renewable energy generation, cover peak loads, smooth demand during periods of reduced solar output, and enable rapid restoration of the power system in the event of accidents. In the long term, the project is expected to enhance Azerbaijan’s energy independence and ensure reliable operation of the electricity network both independently and in parallel with neighbouring countries.

Airbus SE announced on Monday that Germany has decided to exercise its option for 20 additional H145M light combat helicopters under an agreement signed in 2023, bringing the total number of helicopters to 82, Azernews reports, citing foreign media.

According to Airbus, out of the 82 helicopters, the German Army will receive 72, while the German Air Force’s (Luftwaffe) special forces will operate ten. The H145M is designed for a wide range of missions, including training, reconnaissance, special forces operations, and light attack. The first batch of helicopters was delivered to the German military in November 2024.

‘This further commitment by one of our home countries is a strong endorsement of the H145M’s exceptional performance and multi-role capabilities,’ said Stefan Thome, managing director of Airbus Helicopters in Germany. He added that the helicopters’ versatility, advanced avionics, and compact design make them particularly suited for rapid deployment and complex missions.

Industry analysts note that the additional order reflects Germany’s growing focus on modernizing its military fleet and enhancing its rapid-response capabilities amid evolving security challenges in Europe.

Representatives of Sino-Foreign Economic Cooperation (Beijing) Science and Trade and its partner company Wuyan Jiangsu Biotechnology, which act as the investor and operator of Azerbaijan’s trade houses in China, have paid a visit to Azerbaijan.

As reported by Azernews, the visit was organized jointly by the Export and Investment Promotion Agency of Azerbaijan (AZPROMO) and the office of Azerbaijan’s Trade Representative in China. As part of the visit, the delegation toured several regions of the country and familiarized themselves with the operations of local enterprises engaged in the production of food, wine, and cosmetic products within the agricultural and chemical industries.

During meetings with Azerbaijani companies, discussions were held on expanding opportunities for exporting locally produced goods to the Chinese market. The talks focused on strengthening trade ties and increasing the presence of Azerbaijani products in China.

An exhibition, “A Life Preserved on Canvas”, commemorating the artist Rasim Nazirov (1949-2023), has opened at the Vajiha Samadova Exhibition Hall of the Azerbaijan Artists’ Union, Azernews reports.

Speaking at the opening, Chairman of the Azerbaijan Artists’ Union, People’s Artist and Professor Farhad Khalilov, reflected on Nazirov’s creative legacy, noting that the display of his paintings and graphic works marks the artist’s first solo exhibition.

Rasim Nazirov was a member of the Azerbaijan Artists’ Union and had been an active participant in national and international exhibitions since 1979. Working in both painting and graphic art, he was particularly recognized for his still lifes, portraits, and landscapes.

His works have been exhibited in Georgia, Russia, Poland, Afghanistan, Turkiye, and other countries. In addition to his artistic practice, Nazirov authored scholarly publications addressing key issues in contemporary visual art.

The opening ceremony also included remarks by Deputy Culture Minister Murad Huseynov; Member of the Azerbaijani Parliament and Deputy Chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Culture, Gunay Afandiyeva; and Rector of the Azerbaijan State Academy of Fine Arts, People’s Artist Natig Aliyev.

They spoke about Nazirov’s life and artistic journey, highlighting the distinctive qualities of his work and the high artistic merit of the exhibited pieces. The artist’s spouse, Sevil Badalova, conveyed her heartfelt gratitude to the Azerbaijan Artists’ Union for organizing the exhibition.

At the end of January, two twin pandas are scheduled to be returned to China from Tokyo Zoo, Japan, Azernews reports. This will mark the first time in 53 years that there will be no pandas in Japanese zoos.

The agency notes that the first pandas were sent to Japan from China in 1972 as a symbol of the normalization of diplomatic relations between the two countries. However, amid rising tensions between Beijing and Tokyo, the prospects for new pandas appearing in Japanese zoos remain uncertain.

It is important to remember that all giant pandas are considered the property of China: even those born abroad are only loaned to foreign zoos under strict lease agreements. This policy is part of the so-called ‘panda diplomacy,’ a unique tool Beijing has used for decades to strengthen its international influence. Some experts suggest that these adorable ambassadors are not only symbols of friendship but also subtle instruments of geopolitical strategy.