On July 18, Baku’s cultural scene saw a unique celebration of ancient Chinese philosophy as the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, the Confucius Institute at Azerbaijan University of Languages (AUL), and the Baku Book Center jointly organized an evening entitled "The Confucius That We Don’t Know."
The event, attended by Leyla Aliyeva, Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, offered fresh insights into the enduring legacy of Confucius, the renowned Chinese philosopher.
Lu Mei, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Azerbaijan, spoke about the significance of the book that inspired the event. 
Meanwhile, Ilham Mammadzada, Director of the Institute of Philosophy and Sociology at the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS), underlined the central role of Confucian philosophy in shaping ancient Chinese culture. The author of the book, philosopher Mushfig Ötgun, reflected on the work’s journey since its first publication in 2016. He expressed gratitude for the support of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation in bringing out a second edition after nine years. “Confucius is one of humanity’s great teachers, and his wisdom deserves wider recognition,” Ötgun said. The evening also featured cultural performances, including the recital of Confucius’ quotes in both Azerbaijani and Chinese by Confucius Institute student Raziya Ahadova. Another student, Sofia Garayeva, performed excerpts from traditional Chinese opera, accompanied by her teacher, Gou Yuyuan, who showcased a Chinese folk dance. The event concluded with guests partaking in a traditional Chinese tea ceremony, highlighting the deep cultural ties celebrated throughout the evening.