Category: Azer News

A student scientific seminar titled “Chinese Cinema: Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow” has taken place at the Confucius Institute of the Azerbaijan University of Languages (AUL), Azernews reports.

The seminar was dedicated to the 120th anniversary of Chinese cinema.

During the seminar, the Director of the Confucius Institute, Rafiq Abbasov, spoke about the history of Chinese cinema and its “golden age.”

He underlined that, due to the development of technology, the expansion of cultural exchange, and the emergence of new platforms for film distribution, Chinese cinema has become a significant player in the global film market. It has earned prestigious awards at international film festivals and continues to increase its influence on global culture.

Abbasov also stressed Azerbaijan’s participation in international film festivals held in China, including the China International Film and Television Program Exhibition, the Shanghai International Film and Television Market, the Asia International Film Festival, and the Silk Road International Film Festival.

He mentioned that Azerbaijani films had won special awards at these events and discussed the screenings of Chinese films in Azerbaijan, as well as China’s participation in the Baku International Film Festival.

During the seminar, AUL’s Chinese studies students gave presentations on several topics, including the first Chinese film in the social drama genre, “New Women”, the first feature film, “Yan Ruishen”, and the oldest and most popular genre, martial arts cinema, which portrays the struggle of workers and peasants against oppressors, along with “red cinema.” They also discussed how the emergence of comedies, realistic love dramas, and epic stories in Chinese cinema is tied to the effort to create a distinct Chinese identity in cinema.

The students also talked about the development trends and future prospects of Chinese cinema, the rise of new genres such as action films, thrillers, historical and family dramas, as well as the adaptation of Chinese legends, and modern genres like musicals, arthouse, and auteur films.

The seminar concluded with a screening of “Curse of the Golden Flower”, the most expensive Chinese film in history, which is set during the final years of the Tang Dynasty.

The hydrocarbon industry must fundamentally rethink how it approaches major projects if it is to meet the demands of the coming decades, bp’s Regional President for Azerbaijan, Georgia and Trkiye (AGT), Giovanni Cristofoli, said at the SPE 2025 Caspian Technical Conference in Baku, Azernews reports.

‘We cannot deliver the next 30 to 50 years of hydrocarbon projects the way we did the previous 30. Our methods must change. Comfort is not an option,’ Cristofoli stressed, noting that technical challenges are becoming more complex while supply chains grow increasingly demanding.

Cristofoli highlighted that bp’s operations rest on highly sophisticated technical processes, making expert collaboration indispensable.

‘Bringing together the industry’s top technical talent is crucial for moving the sector forward. I am genuinely delighted to be part of this event,’ he added.

Speaking about the Caspian region, the bp executive pointed to its exceptional infrastructure but said two factors stand out even more: its people and its partnership culture.

‘This region has built a truly high-calibre workforce-from technical specialists and engineers to commercial professionals. There is a strong base of talent that is curious, eager to learn, open to innovation and willing to push boundaries. This, to me, is the real foundation for the future,’ he noted.

He also emphasized the region’s long-standing tradition of cooperation:’Government collaboration is open and supportive from an investment standpoint. I see strong efforts to attract more capital to the region-something you don’t find everywhere. Our partnership with SOCAR is particularly important, as is the excellent cooperation across the supply chain. This ability to form strong partnerships is part of the region’s unique ‘magic recipe’.’

Cristofoli stressed that the industry’s primary challenge is evolving its mindset.

‘The key is not to rely on past approaches. The industry is changing, expectations are rising, and we must adapt to new realities,’ he said.

The SPE 2025 Caspian Technical Conference, bringing together leading engineers, experts and global energy companies, continues in Baku with discussions centered on innovation, digital transformation, decarbonization and the future of regional energy development.

The Azerbaijan Culture Ministry’s e-Culture strategy (2024-2026) is successfully advancing the digitalization of various clusters within the cultural sector, Azernews reports.

In this context, the Culture Ministry has moved a number of services related to the preservation of cultural heritage to electronic format, and applications are now being accepted through the Ministry’s “MyCulture” unified personal cabinet.

The digitalization of services is of great importance in terms of simplifying processes, increasing efficiency, and improving user satisfaction by applying digital solutions.

Among the services being digitized are the approval of construction and landscaping works in protected areas and the protection zones of cultural monuments, granting permission for construction and other economic activities when immovable historical and cultural monuments are discovered, the approval of the sale of immovable historical and cultural monuments, granting permission to convert residential spaces of immovable historical and cultural monuments to non-residential or vice versa, granting permission to lease immovable historical and cultural monuments and related residential and non-residential spaces in private ownership, as well as the approval of projects for restoration, conservation, repair, reconstruction, regeneration, and other works on immovable historical and cultural monuments or their parts.

Applications for these services are submitted electronically through the “MyCulture” personal cabinet.

Users can create personal accounts by logging into their personal cabinet, use services in the cultural sector on a “one-stop-shop” basis, send applications and suggestions, view announcements, and track the status of their applications.

One of the services digitized is the “Approval for the Sale of Immovable Historical and Cultural Monuments.”

According to Article 4 of the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan on the “Protection of Historical and Cultural Monuments,” the owner of a monument in private ownership must inform the State Service for the Protection, Development, and Restoration of Cultural Heritage under the Culture Ministry when selling the monument.

In the case of this service, the digitalization of processes related to the turnover (buying, selling, donation) of immovable historical and cultural monuments placed under state protection will ensure increased efficiency, allow for the electronic tracking of the process, prevent delays, and improve user satisfaction.

On November 25, the Embassy of Mexico in Azerbaijan, Azercell Telecom, and the Reliable Future Social Initiatives Public Union jointly held the presentation of the Women’s Support Helpline Brochure translated into Spanish. The event took place under the international ’16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence’ campaign, aimed at raising awareness and strengthening support mechanisms for women in vulnerable situations, Azernews reports.

Speaking at the event, the Ambassador of the United Mexican States to Azerbaijan, Maria Victoria Romero Caballero, emphasised that gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls remain central to Mexico’s national and foreign policy priorities. She stressed that Mexico’s feminist foreign policy seeks to integrate a gender perspective across all areas of diplomatic work – consular, bilateral, and multilateral – with the objective of eliminating structural inequalities and promoting a more just and equitable society.

Ambassador Romero highlighted the shared vision between the Embassy and its partners in Azerbaijan:

‘When I met Ms Kamala many months ago and learned about her organisation’s mission, I immediately recognised our common priorities – not only in protecting women and girls in Mexico, but in standing with women everywhere. It is not a matter of nationality. We work for the well-being of our citizens, of course, but we believe in supporting any girl or woman who needs help.’

She noted that Mexico has implemented numerous policies to ensure the safety and rights of women, and that the newly presented brochure aligns closely with these commitments and diplomatic obligations. The Ambassador also expressed gratitude to all partners and stakeholders, stressing that progress in women’s rights can only be achieved through collective effort.

‘I am proud to represent a government where women stand at the centre of public life. As my President, Dr Claudia Sheinbaum, has said: This is the time for women,’ she added.

Romero called on institutions, civil society, and the international community to continue working together in support of women and girls, particularly those most in need. She thanked attendees for joining the event at the Pacific Alliance space and acknowledged the dedication of her colleagues who contributed to the project.

The event reaffirmed the shared commitment of the Embassy of Mexico and its Azerbaijani partners to strengthening gender equality, supporting survivors of violence, and enhancing access to assistance services.

The next plenary session of the Milli Majlis will take place on November 25, with 14 items included on the agenda, Azernews reports.

The meeting will focus heavily on the approval of multiple international agreements, particularly those related to mutual visa exemptions with a number of partner countries. Lawmakers will review agreements with the Maldives, Angola, Bahrain, Djibouti, the Dominican Republic, Guinea-Bissau and Suriname, covering various categories of passports, from ordinary to diplomatic, service and special passports.

The agenda also includes the approval of an agreement with Moldova on the exchange and mutual protection of confidential information.

Several draft laws will be discussed in their second reading, including the Law on Transport and Forwarding Activities, amendments to the Civil Code, the Merchant Shipping Code, and laws governing transport and motor vehicle transport. Deputies will also consider changes to legislation on Courts and Judges, the Judicial-Legal Council, as well as amendments to the Law on Civil Service.

Further discussions will address proposed amendments to the Laws ‘On Protection of Consumer Rights’, ‘On Environmental Protection’, ‘On State Duty’, ‘On Accreditation in the Field of Conformity Assessment’ and ‘On Standardization’.

The session will also include the first reading of the draft law on the approval of the Regulations ‘On Military Service’ and amendments to the Law ‘On Military Duty and Military Service’.

The extensive agenda reflects ongoing legislative, institutional and international cooperation priorities.

Azerbaijan’s chess team made history at the FIDE Women’s World Team Championship held in Linares, Spain, by securing a historic silver medal in the prestigious tournament, Azernews reports.

Competing on the first board, Ulviyya Fataliyeva finished the tournament with an impressive 6 points from 10 games, surpassing all other players in her category to earn the coveted gold medal for her individual performance.

The Azerbaijani team, comprising Ulviyya Fataliyeva, Govh?r Beydullayeva, Gulnar Mammadova, Khanim Balajayeva, and Ayan Allahverdiyeva, displayed incredible teamwork throughout the championship and earned a silver medal. It was the first time the team had achieved such a high ranking in the World Championship.

The FIDE team, which went undefeated to claim the title, posed a tough challenge in the final, but Azerbaijan’s players gave their best and emerged as runners-up.

Twelve teams participated in the 2025 FIDE Women’s World Team Championship in Linares, Spain. The competition featured a round-robin stage followed by a knockout phase, with standard classical time controls of 45 minutes plus a 30-second increment per move. Each team match had four boards, and teams were divided into two groups for the initial stage.

For centuries, chess has been a popular game in Azerbaijan, with ancient roots closely related to traditions.

The country could preserve these traditions as chess remains a crucially popular sport for now.

To popularise this original game, Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev, who is also the chairman of the National Olympic Committee, signed in 2009 an executive order initiating a state-supported chess development program, covering the years 2009-2014.

The 42nd Chess Olympiad, held in Baku, is indeed an excellent example of great attention paid to the development of chess games in the country.

The large-scale event attracted a total of 1,587 participants, including 894 in the Open category and 693 in the Women’s event, making the Baku Chess Olympiad a significant event.

Similarly, the FIDE World Chess Cup 2023 in Baku captivated chess fans with its high-calibre competition and exhilarating matches.

Featuring a highly competitive lineup, the World Cup provided an exciting venue to display the remarkable skill and strategic finesse of elite chess players.

Approximately 206 competitors participated in the open section, along with 103 players in the women’s competition.

The national chess players have always been taking high places at top-ranked tournaments.

The Azerbaijan Judo Championship will take place at the Baku Sports Palace, Azernews reports.

The country’s top athletes will compete in a total of 14 weight categories at this major local tournament designed for both male and female judokas.

The individual competitions will be held on December 5-6, while the team event will take place on December 7.

Founded in 1972, the Azerbaijan Judo Federation actively promotes this martial art across the country. Since 2015, the Federation has been led by Rovnag Abdullayev.

The country’s modern judo history was laid by Mehman Azizov, who won a silver medal at the Old World Championship in 1998.

A year later, the winner of the World Youth Games in Moscow, Rasul Salimov, grabbed the bronze medal at the European Championship in Slovakia. Another national judoka, Elchin Ismayilov, became the European champion in 2000 in Wroclaw.

However, the achievements of Azerbaijani judo fighters did not stop there. Elnur Mammadli was named the best at the 2008 Beijing Olympics in the 73 kg division.

The list of the country’s top judo fighters includes Rustam Orujov, Irina Kindzerskaya, Mammadali Mehdiyev, Elmar Gasimov, Hidayat Heydarov, Zelim Kotsoev, Ushangi Kokauri, and Nijat Shikhalizada.

The 2025 Caspian Technical Conference, organized by the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), is taking place today in Baku, Azernews reports.

This year’s event is hosted with the support of SOCAR and is held under the theme ‘Learning from the Past, Reimagining the Present, Inspiring the Future.’

Over the next two days, participants will engage in discussions on digitalization, the application of artificial intelligence, enhanced reservoir performance, as well as safety and sustainable supply-key priorities shaping the future of the region’s energy sector.

The program includes an opening ceremony, the presentation of SPE regional awards, two high-level plenary sessions, and more than twenty thematic panels featuring both practical case studies and analytical reports.

Speakers will include representatives from major international companies and leading academic institutions. A technology exhibition will run alongside the conference, where companies will showcase new tools, engineering solutions, and innovations expected to influence the industry’s future landscape.

SPE-the Society of Petroleum Engineers-is a global organization uniting 132,000 professionals from 146 countries. The organization develops professional standards, designs educational programs, supports technical communities, and serves as a platform for industry knowledge exchange. SPE maintains offices in Calgary, Dallas, Dubai, Houston, and Kuala Lumpur.

Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov met with Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations of the Holy See, during his official visit to Vatican City, Azernews reports citing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

During the meeting, both sides reviewed the steadily developing Azerbaijan-Vatican partnership, expressing satisfaction with the constructive dialogue built on mutual respect. They highlighted ongoing cooperation in promoting interfaith harmony, supporting cultural diplomacy, and advancing global peace initiatives.

The importance of continued high-level reciprocal visits was emphasized as a key element in strengthening political dialogue, expanding humanitarian and cultural ties, and broadening joint international initiatives. The sides also discussed the successful conservation and restoration projects in the Vatican supported by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, acknowledging their significant contribution to safeguarding global religious and cultural heritage.

The conversation additionally underlined Azerbaijan’s long-term commitment to protecting religious monuments and promoting multicultural values both at home and internationally.

The meeting also touched on the Azerbaijan-Armenia normalization process, focusing on the implementation of the Washington Summit agreements and the ongoing reconstruction efforts in Azerbaijan’s liberated territories.

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev shared a post on his social media accounts on the occasion of the anniversary of Kalbajar’s liberation from occupation, Azernews reports.

The post reads: ‘Our Victory History: November 25, 2020 – Kalbajar.’