Azerbaijan joins charity sale in Beijing
By Amina Nazarli
Azerbaijan has joined "Love Knows No Borders" charity sale in Beijing, which is aimed at raising funds to help village teachers in southwestern Yunnan province.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited the Azerbaijani pavilion, where he tasted "pakhlava" and "sherbet."
Ambassador Latif Gandilov informed the Chinese FM about souvenirs, stamps, carpets, wines and sweets exhibited at the Azerbaijani pavilion.
Initiated in 2009 by State Councilor Yang Jiechi, the charity event is held under the name of the Chinese Foreign Minister’s wife, Qian Wei, and is attended by foreign ambassadors and their spouses yearly. It raises funds by selling artifacts and food from all over the world.
This year’s event, hosted by Qian Wei, was held under the theme of "A Tribute to Rural Teachers in Yunnan." The funds raised will go to helping teachers working under harsh conditions at primary and secondary schools in Jinping and Malippo counties in Yunnan province.
It is estimated that more than 7,000 teachers are working in 359 primary and secondary schools in the two counties. About 2,000 teachers are expected to be beneficiaries in the charity sale.
Some 69 embassies, representative offices of international organizations and 11 domestic enterprises have participated in this year's event, raising the total fund to over 2 million yuan (about $317, 000 ). They brought along traditional and special local products from their respective countries, turning the bazaar into a cultural exchange gala.
The money raised at the charity sale may be just a drop in the bucket of what is needed. But it is hoped the event will raise public consciousness, at home and abroad, to do more for the cause of education.
China recognized Azerbaijan’s independence in 1991. Diplomatic relations between two countries were then established in 1992 and in the same year, the Chinese embassy in Azerbaijan was opened. A year later, Azerbaijan opened its embassy in China.
Azerbaijan and China support each other in international organizations.
China is a huge opportunity and a priority market for Azerbaijan. More than 50 agreements were signed between the two countries.
The trade turnover between the two countries amounted to $288.4 million in the first six months of 2015, some $259.3 million of which came from Azerbaijan's imports.
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Amina Nazarli is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on
Twitter: @amina_nazarli
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