Against the backdrop of the  deepening Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and steadily advancing  economic, trade, cultural and people-to-people cooperation between China  and Azerbaijan, Professor Li Renying, Deputy Secretary-General of the  BRI Association for Science and Technology, actively facilitated the  visit. At his invitation, a delegation led by Yang Xiaoyan, President of  the Gansu Tourism Industry Investment Chamber of Commerce, visited  Baku. On April 20, 2026, Hijran Huseynova, Chairperson of the Committee  on Family, Women and Children Affairs of the National Assembly of  Azerbaijan, cordially met with the delegation, which included Yang  Xiaoyan (Honorary President of Gansu Women Entrepreneurs Association and  President of Gansu Tourism Industry Investment Chamber of Commerce), Li  Xiaohong (Executive President of Gansu Tourism Industry Investment  Chamber of Commerce and Chairwoman of Gansu Dongyuan Group), and Ma  Zhizhong (Chairman of Tianshui Hengshun Group). The two sides held  in-depth discussions on strengthening high-quality BRI cooperation and  jointly building tourism industry partnerships between Gansu and  Azerbaijan.

The meeting  was of notable significance, as it marked the first official dialogue  between a specialized committee of Azerbaijan’s legislative body and a  women entrepreneurs’ organization as well as a tourism investment  organization from Gansu Province, China. It signifies an innovative step  in cross-sectoral cooperation on women and children affairs and  industrial investment between the two countries.

I. Shared Consensus: Building a Bridge Linking Women and Children Affairs with Tourism Industry Cooperation

The  meeting was conducted in a warm and friendly atmosphere. Chairperson  Hijran Huseynova extended a sincere welcome to the delegation. She noted  that Azerbaijan attaches great importance to the development of women  and children affairs, and that her committee has been committed to  improving relevant legislation, safeguarding women’s rights, and  promoting the healthy growth of children and the harmonious development  of families. She stated: “Gansu is a golden section of the ancient Silk  Road. Women entrepreneurs and tourism industry investors from Gansu play  an important role in promoting local economic development. We hope that  through this meeting, we can build a bridge for cooperation between  Azerbaijan and China in areas such as women’s economic empowerment,  child-friendly industry cultivation, and family tourism.”

Yang  Xiaoyan, Honorary President of Gansu Women Entrepreneurs Association,  introduced the association’s development profile and its practices in  promoting female entrepreneurship, innovation, and women entrepreneurs’  participation in international economic and trade cooperation. She  expressed the hope that through direct communication with the  Azerbaijani parliamentary committee, both sides could further understand  each other’s needs in women and children development and investment  policies, and explore opportunities in cultural exchange, industrial  connection, and social philanthropy, allowing women’s strength to  contribute positively to people-to-people bonds under the BRI. Yang  Xiaoyan, also President of Gansu Tourism Industry Investment Chamber of  Commerce, noted that family travel, parent-child trips, and women-themed  tourism have become major growth drivers in the global tourism market.  She highlighted the complementary nature of tourism resources between  Gansu (with Mogao Caves, Jiayuguan Pass, Zhangye Danxia, etc.) and  Azerbaijan (with Caspian Sea scenery, unique Caucasus charm, Sheki  Khan’s Palace, Gobustan rock art, Naftalan oil baths, Baku’s Yanar Dag  and mud volcanoes), pointing out the vast market potential for designing  family, women and child-friendly tourism routes and products.

II.Four Concrete Initiatives: Implementing Pragmatic Cooperation Under the Belt and Road Framework

Following  in-depth exchanges, the three parties announced that they will focus on  advancing the following four cooperation initiatives:

(1) Establishing a Regular Communication Mechanism
The  Committee on Family, Women and Children Affairs of the National  Assembly of Azerbaijan, the Gansu Women Entrepreneurs Association, and  the Gansu Tourism Industry Investment Chamber of Commerce have decided  to set up an information exchange and periodic meeting mechanism. This  will facilitate dynamic communication and coordination on investment  policies related to women and children, support for women’s  entrepreneurship, child-friendly tourism standards, and other issues,  providing policy guidance and institutional safeguards for practical  cooperation.

(2) Jointly Launching the “Silk Road Women Entrepreneurship Empowerment Program”
The  three parties plan to initiate this program, leveraging the  entrepreneurial mentorship resources of the Gansu Women Entrepreneurs  Association and women’s entrepreneurship projects in Azerbaijan. Through  online training, on-site visits, and experience-sharing, the program  will help Azerbaijani women entrepreneurs enhance their capabilities in  business management, marketing, and digital operations, while also  creating a platform for Gansu women entrepreneurs and the Gansu Tourism  Industry Investment Chamber of Commerce to enter the Azerbaijani market –  enabling mutual empowerment and shared growth.

(3) Cooperatively Developing “Silk Road for Families – Family-Friendly Tourism Routes”
The  Gansu Tourism Industry Investment Chamber of Commerce, in collaboration  with relevant Azerbaijani tourism institutions and with the support of  Azerbaijan’s parliamentary committee, will design and create  cross-border parent-child tourism products integrating historical study,  nature exploration, and intangible cultural heritage experiences. The  routes will place special emphasis on safety, educational value, and  convenience, and will promote the upgrading of child-friendly services  in hotels, scenic spots, and restaurants along the routes. Tourism will  serve as a vehicle to foster mutual understanding and cultural identity  among the youth of both countries.

(4) Promoting the “Loving Mother” Public Welfare Cooperation Project
The  Gansu Women Entrepreneurs Association will mobilize its members to  connect with charitable organizations guided by the Azerbaijani  parliamentary committee, carrying out public welfare activities to care  for disadvantaged children and assist impoverished families. This will  convey the compassion and warmth of Chinese women entrepreneurs,  demonstrating that the Belt and Road Initiative is not only a path for  economic and trade cooperation but also a journey of shared humanistic  care and responsibility.

III.Future Outlook: Cross-Sectoral Innovation as a New Model for People-to-People Diplomacy

At  the conclusion of the meeting, Chairperson Hijran Huseynova spoke  highly of the pragmatic attitude and international vision of the two  Gansu-based associations. She stated: “You have not only brought  investment and business opportunities but also genuine concern for the  cause of women and children. The Committee on Family, Women and Children  Affairs of the National Assembly of Azerbaijan will actively coordinate  with relevant government departments to provide maximum convenience and  support for the cooperation projects of the Gansu Women Entrepreneurs  Association and the Gansu Tourism Industry Investment Chamber of  Commerce in Azerbaijan.”

President  Yang Xiaoyan thanked Chairperson Huseynova for her time and sincerely  invited her to visit Gansu at her convenience – to experience firsthand  the development vitality of Northwest China and the rich heritage of  Silk Road culture, and to further promote bilateral cooperation in  broader fields and at deeper levels.

This  meeting broke through the traditional scope of business engagement,  organically integrating women and children affairs with industrial  investment. It reflects the upgrading of China-Azerbaijan Belt and Road  cooperation from simply pursuing economic benefits to encompassing  social value and improving people’s livelihoods. The direct  participation of the Azerbaijani parliamentary committee has injected  policy credibility and sustainability into subsequent cooperation. At  the same time, the appearance of three renowned women entrepreneurs and  the President of the Gansu Tourism Industry Investment Chamber of  Commerce in Baku demonstrates the open posture of China’s northwestern  inland region in proactively integrating into global development and  actively participating in international governance – providing a dynamic  model for people-to-people diplomacy and industrial cooperation along  the Belt and Road.

Appendix: Brief Biography of Chairperson Hijran Huseynova

Hijran Kamran qızı Huseynova (Hicran Hüseynova Kamran qızı)  – Azerbaijani politician, member of the 6th and 7th convocations of the  National Assembly of Azerbaijan. Currently serves as Chairperson of the  Committee on Family, Women and Children Affairs of the National  Assembly of Azerbaijan. Doctor of Political Science (first female PhD in  Political Science in Azerbaijan), Professor. Member of the New  Azerbaijan Party.

• Date and Place of Birth: August 13, 1955, Sumgayit.

• Education:  Graduated from high school in Baku (1972); graduated from the Faculty  of History, Azerbaijan State University (1977); pursued doctoral studies  (1985) and defended her dissertation on “Azerbaijan in the European  Integration System” (2001), becoming the first female Doctor of  Political Science in Azerbaijan; awarded academic title of Professor  (2007).

• Career:  Teacher at Baku Secondary School No. 189 (1977 onwards); Lecturer,  Associate Professor, Professor at Azerbaijan State University  (1988-1993, which became Baku State University from 1991); Head of  International Relations and Information Department, Azerbaijan  Republic’s Committee on Women’s Issues (1999-2003); Appointed  Chairperson of the State Committee on Family, Women and Children Affairs  of the Republic of Azerbaijan (2006); Nominated as Chairperson of the  Committee on Family, Women and Children Affairs of the National Assembly  of Azerbaijan (January 7, 2020); Elected to the 7th convocation of the  National Assembly of Azerbaijan and re-appointed Chairperson of the  Committee on Family, Women and Children Affairs (2024).

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