In recent years, important steps have been taken the development of education in the country. The normative legal basis of education is being improved, extensive measures are being implemented based on the decrees of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the direction of material and technical support. Sumgayit State University considers cooperation with prestigious international organizations as one of its priorities and increases its efforts day by day in this field. As a continuation of these relations, at the 29th "China Lanzou Investment and Trade Forum" and "International Twin Cities Industrial Promotion and Economic, Commercial Cooperation Conference" organized in Lanzou, People"s Republic of China, from July 2 to 9, associate professor Gafar Atayev, vice-rector for İnternational relations of SSU, and Sadagat Fatullayeva, head of the department of İnternational cooperation and foreign students, visited the People"s Republic of China for the purpose of expanding bilateral cooperation between Hexi University of the People"s Republic of China (PRC).

It should be noted that our representatives participated in several meetings and events at Hexi University, one of the prestigious universities of the PRC, which signed an online cooperation agreement with SSU in 2022.

First, a meeting was held with the rector of Hexi University Mr. Zhou Yun and other executives. The rector greeted the guests and conveyed his best wishes to them. Associate professor Gafar Atayev conveyed the greetings of SSU rector professor Elkhan Huseynov and expressed his satisfaction with the warm welcome. In return, a brand book and national souvenirs related to the university were presented.

Then, at the meeting organized with a large composition, Zhou Yun Hexi University and associate professor Gafar Atayev gave information about SSU.

During the meeting, in response to the policy of the Historical Silk Road and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, the expansion of humanitarian and educational cooperation between China and Azerbaijan, recognition and expansion of common interests were focused on. Also, creating Confucius Institute at SSU and the opening of the Center dedicated to Azerbaijani culture at Hexi University were discussed.

In front of a large audience, a video showing the educational opportunities, material and technical base of SSU was shown. Associate professor Gafar Atayev made a presentation on "China-Azerbaijan bilateral relations", and Sadagat Fatullayeva gave information on international relations of SSU and its participation in international projects.

Within the framework of the visit, the representatives visited Jiquan Vocational and Technical College and Gansu Agriculture Technology College, which have laboratories in modern technological equipment, and a Memorandum of Understanding was signed with SSU, providing for cooperation in the field of student mobility and scientific research.

Certificates were presented to associate professor Gafar Atayev and Sadagat Fatullayeva for the appointment of "International expert of the University" during 2023-2026.

It should be noted that in September, an official business visit of a delegation of the PRC to SSU is expected in order to discuss the initial details of the implementation of the mentioned issues and creating of the "Lu Ban" laboratory in Azerbaijan.