On January 25, the launching ceremony of the 2024 "Happy New Year" in Budapest was held in the China Year of the Dragon Lantern Exhibition Park in Budapest, Hungary. Chinese Ambassador to Hungary Gong Tao and Hungarian Minister of Culture and Innovation Chuck Janos attended the ceremony and delivered speeches. Nearly 200 guests from all walks of life from China and Hungary attended the event, including Vitayus Estelle, Deputy Minister of Culture and Innovation, Wencai Martí, Undersecretary of State for Public Relations and Cultural Development, Chopper Kabor, Undersecretary of State for Culture and Diplomacy, and Hidaig Attila, Undersecretary of State for International Cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Economic Cooperation.
Gong Tao said that 2024 is China's Year of the Dragon and the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Hungary. Under the strategic guidance of the leaders of the two countries, the political mutual trust between the two sides has been deepened, the Belt and Road Initiative has been deeply connected with Hungary's "opening to the east" policy, practical cooperation in various fields has been fruitful, and people-to-people exchanges have been highlighted, becoming a model of friendly exchanges between countries with different social systems, different histories and cultures, and different populations. The launching ceremony of this year's "Happy New Year" in Budapest not only represents the beginning of the celebration of the Chinese New Year of the Dragon in Hungary, but also kicks off the prelude to various activities to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Hungary. It is believed that in the new year, the people-to-people ties between China and Hungary will be closer, the friendly atmosphere will be stronger, and the comprehensive strategic partnership will reach a new level.
Chuck Yanos said that Hungary and China love and respect each other. Hungarians have Asian roots and are the most Westerners like the East. Hungary and China respect each other's traditions and habits, share a common desire for peace, and both are working towards it. In today's world, where conflicts are frequent, the interconnection and dialogue between Hungary and China will play a positive role in the harmony of the whole world.
After the speeches of the guests, artists from China and Hungary also performed on the same stage, the enthusiastic Hungarian folk dance "Kalota Sege" and the beautiful and elegant Chinese dance "Qingping Tune" on the same stage, and the Sino-Hungarian chorus "Spring Breeze Blowing Water" pushed the Sino-Hungarian friendly atmosphere to a climax, and also sent the most sincere New Year wishes to the guests.
Finally, Gong Tao, Chuck Janos and the guests at the scene jointly lit the auspicious dragon lantern and announced the official launch of the 2024 "Happy New Year" Budapest series of celebrations.
The guests attending the event also visited the Budapest Dragon Year Lantern Exhibition, where a wide variety of colorful Sichuan Zigong lanterns will be dazzling and lively. In addition to the "auspicious dragon" theme lanterns, the lantern display also features Chinese terracotta warriors, Egyptian sphinxes, and lively and cute giant pandas, elephants, polar bears, tigers, flamingos, peacocks, and other cultural symbols and biological populations from all over the world. As a national intangible cultural heritage, Zigong lanterns perfectly integrate traditional craftsmanship and modern lighting technology to create a vivid garden of Chinese lantern culture for the local people. The event site also specially designed Taohuawu woodblock New Year picture printing, hand-made lanterns, writing Spring Festival couplets, Hanfu parade and other Chinese "intangible cultural heritage" and traditional culture interactive activities, attracting the audience to stop and experience and immerse themselves in the charm of China's excellent traditional culture.
This event is the first cultural event of the Hungarian 2024 "Happy New Year" brand series, and a number of activities such as the "Southern Fujian Style" art show and the Chinatown New Year temple fair will be launched in the future to share the Chinese New Year with the Hungarian people.
Source: Cultural and Education Section of the Chinese Embassy in Hungary