Beijing: Yuan Xikun, the Director of the JinTai Art Museum and a renowned sculptor, has expressed his motivation behind the creation of a statue of the significant Azerbaijani poet Nizami Ganjavi, which is installed in Chaoyang Park, Beijing. "Nizami Ganjavi is one of the most important figures in world culture. That's why I felt compelled to erect his statue," Yuan stated.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, Yuan Xikun highlighted the shared worldview between Nizami Ganjavi and Su Dongpo, a poet who lived 104 years prior to Nizami. Despite the time gap, both poets exhibited similar sensibilities and philosophies. Yuan noted that Nizami's works were driven by a distinct purpose and vision, paralleling Su Dongpo's simple lifestyle, which eschewed smoking and other unnecessary habits in favor of healthy living.

The sculptor stressed that progressive ideas are not confined to a single nation but are the collective heritage of humankind. "That's precisely why I erected statues of these sages in Chaoyang Park," Yuan explained. He hopes to educate Chinese children on the universality of advanced ideas and encourage learning from these wise figures.

Nizami Ganjavi's bust was installed in 2012, marking a significant cultural connection between China and Azerbaijan. In recognition of his contributions, Yuan Xikun was honored with Azerbaijan's "Friendship" Order in 2021 by Presidential Decree.