The beautiful Danube River runs through Budapest, the capital of Hungary, and is like the main artery of this thousand-year-old city. There are nine bridges of different styles built on the river, connecting Buda and Pest on both sides, making this "pearl of the Danube" even more accessible. "The bridge is not only convenient for everyone's life, but also a symbol of communication, understanding and friendship." Ten years ago, during his visit to Europe, President Xi Jinping used the "bridge" as an introduction to slowly elaborate on China-EU relations.
Budapest, the capital of Hungary, located on the banks of the Danube River, is a famous ancient city in Europe and is known as the "Pearl of the Danube". Spring and summer alternate, and Budapest has become hot in recent days. News of President Xi Jinping's upcoming "landmark visit" to Hungary is also gaining momentum. From local officials to young students, from scholars to entrepreneurs, people expressed their eagerness in the interview, hoping that this visit will build more bridges of friendship and cooperation between China and Hungary and China and Europe. Strategic Bridge: "The Belt and Road" meets "Opening to the East" "This year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Hungary, and the development of bilateral relations is facing new and important opportunities." This is what President Xi Jinping said when he called President Shuyuk in February. In October 1949, Hungary became one of the first countries to recognize and establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China, and the traditional friendship between the two countries goes back to ancient times. In June 2015, Hungary became the first European country to sign an intergovernmental cooperation document with China on the Belt and Road Initiative, opening the door to the successful alignment of the Belt and Road Initiative with Hungary's "Open to the East" strategy. In May 2017, President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Viktor Orban jointly announced the establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries. In recent years, under the strategic guidance of the leaders of the two countries, China-Hungary relations have always maintained a high level of development.
A rainbow hangs in the sky behind the Chain Bridge in Budapest, Hungary. Prime Minister Orban has attended the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation for three consecutive times. In October 2023, when President Xi Jinping met with Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who was visiting China, he said: "This shows that you are a staunch supporter of the Belt and Road Initiative." Prime Minister Orban said that the "Belt and Road" initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping will bring major changes to the world, which is conducive to promoting the development of the world economy and bringing more benefits to the people of all countries. At the Think Tank Exchange Forum of the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, Mautolč Đergy, Governor of the Central Bank of Hungary, who accompanied Prime Minister Orban on his visit to China, described his feelings as follows: "The Belt and Road Initiative is not only a win-win situation, but also a 'win-win-win'. Prime Minister Viktor Orban has said that the investment and cooperation of Chinese enterprises have significantly promoted the economic and social development of Hungary. The Hungarian-Serbian railway project is a landmark project of the Belt and Road Initiative, with a total length of nearly 350 kilometers, connecting Budapest and Belgrade, the capital of Serbia. "President Xi Jinping's visit to Hungary is exciting news." Bauertau, deputy director of the general office of China Railway Electrification Bureau Group (Hungary) Co., Ltd., speaks Chinese fluently. As the "chief translator" of the company's project, he said: "The people of Budapest are most familiar with bridges, and I feel that the cooperation between China and us is like building bridges. It is hoped that the Belt and Road cooperation such as the Hungarian-Serbian Railway will bring more opportunities to the two countries." The invitation of President Shuyuk and Prime Minister Orban to President Xi Jinping to visit Hungary fully reflects the great importance and ardent expectations of the Hungarian side for this visit. It is the common expectation of all sectors in Hungary to promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and push China-Hungary relations to a new level. On May 3, at the high school graduation ceremony held at the Hungarian-Chinese Bilingual School, the excited expressions of the children and the pleased smiles of teachers and parents were frozen in the camera again and again, including 10 fresh graduates who will go to China for further study this fall.
The entrance of the Hungarian-Chinese Bilingual School. This school is the crystallization of Sino-Hungarian friendship. In October 2009, Xi Jinping, then Vice President of the People's Republic of China, visited the school during his visit to Hungary. At the beginning of 2023, President Xi Jinping replied to the students of the university, sending a message to Hungarian youths to "be messengers for the inheritance and development of China-Hungary friendship". Now, two of the students who wrote to President Xi Jinping are about to complete their first year of study at Capital Normal University. They hope to engage in Chinese teaching and translation work, and become "warm envoys of Sino-Hungarian friendship". From Chinese education to international relations, economics, and artificial intelligence, students' choice of majors to study in China reflects the vigorous vitality of cooperation between the two countries in various fields. "By mastering Chinese and professional knowledge, they have the key to unlock the future of life." The principal of the Hungarian-Chinese bilingual school, Erdei Susanna, told reporters.
On May 3, at the Hungarian-Chinese Bilingual School, Marty, a Year 12 graduate, took a group photo with his family at the graduation ceremony. President Xi Jinping's upcoming visit to Hungary has excited all the teachers and students of the university. "This is particularly encouraging news." "On behalf of all teachers and students, I would like to thank President Xi Jinping for his long-term concern for the development of our school. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Hungarian-Chinese Bilingual School. During his visit to China in 2003, former Hungarian Prime Minister Mijěch Peter proposed the establishment of such a school, which received a positive response from the Chinese side. He once sent a message to the school to "cultivate builders of Hungarian-Chinese friendship" and hoped that Hungary would "build a bridge for Sino-European exchanges and cooperation". A statue of Pei Duofei, gifted by Mai Jiexi during his visit to China in 2003, is now housed in the Lu Xun Museum in Beijing. And in the city not far from Budapest, there is also a statue of Lu Xun in the former residence of Pei Duofei.
The statue of Pei Duofei in the Lu Xun Museum in Beijing (left) and the statue of Lu Xun in the former residence of Pei Duofei in Hungary (right). 2023 marks the 200th anniversary of Pei Duofei's birth and the 100th anniversary of the publication of Lu Xun's first novel collection "The Scream". Lu Lanzhou, vice president of the Lu Xun Cultural Foundation, said that Lu Xun admired Pei Duofei very much, admired and introduced Pei Duofei and his works for a long time, and did his best to help other translators translate and publish Pei Duofei's works, build a bridge for cultural exchanges between China and Hungary, and write a good story of Sino-Hungarian cultural exchanges. In August 2023, a "Master Dialogue" event between Lu Xun and Pei Duofei was held in Hungary. "The event was immersed in a friendly, natural and harmonious atmosphere from beginning to end," Lu Lanzhou said, "Many Chinese have read Pei Duofei's poems since they were students, especially the famous "Freedom and Love". Literature is a bridge across time, space and language, even if it is thousands of years or thousands of miles apart, it can still promote the spiritual communication between the people of China and Hungary. ”
Morning view of the Chain Bridge in Budapest, Hungary. The Department of Chinese at ELTE University has a history of more than 100 years and has trained a large number of experts who are proficient in Chinese Chinese language and culture. In 2006, ELTE established the first Confucius Institute in Hungary based on the Department of Chinese. Vice President and Head of the Department of Chinese Imre Haumour (Chinese name Hao Qingxin) is himself a sinologist trained by the Department of Chinese. From the Department of Chinese to the Confucius Institute, from the construction of the "Belt and Road" research center to the training of Chinese teachers in Central and Eastern European countries, Hao Qingxin's schedule has become increasingly busy in recent years. He told reporters that a hundred years ago, the Department of Chinese mainly studied ancient Chinese literature. Nowadays, "China Studies", which integrates social, economic, cultural and other fields, attracts young students to sign up. In order to better meet the strong demand for Chinese talents, the Department of Chinese plans to launch the "Chinese + Professional" model next year to cultivate more young talents for cooperation and exchanges between the two countries. "I believe that President Xi Jinping's visit will bring closer cooperation between the two countries in education, culture, economy and other fields." He said. Bridge of Cooperation: "Growing Together" with China In Tokoy, northeastern Hungary, Bobbitz winery's vineyards are expected to bloom in mid-May. Owner Bobbitz Laszlo is looking forward to another bumper season in the Chinese market. Bobitz told reporters that the noble rot wine produced by the winery will be very popular at the 3rd China-CEEC Expo in 2023, which has strengthened his confidence in cultivating the Chinese market. Hungary is now one of the Central and Eastern European countries with the largest number of licenses for the export of agricultural products to China. In October 2023, when President Xi Jinping met with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, he said that China is willing to expand imports of high-quality Hungarian agricultural products. Bobitz believes that President Xi Jinping's visit will further strengthen Hungarian-Chinese relations, "We are willing to bring more high-quality products to the Chinese people."
This is a China-Europe freight train container in the logistics park of the port of Cheper taken in Budapest, Hungary on April 12, 2022. As an agent of Hungarian liquor such as noble rot, Wick Group has been expanding its business areas in recent years, connecting enterprises in culture and art, intelligent manufacturing, and new energy to enter the Hungarian market. "Riding on the spring breeze of cooperation between China and CEE countries, we will usher in better development." Sun Jinsong, general manager of Weike Wine China, said. Hungary has been China's largest investment destination in Central and Eastern Europe for many years. During his visit to China, Premier Orban made a special trip to Shenzhen to visit Huawei, BYD and other enterprises. In recent years, new energy vehicles have landed in the Hungarian market, power battery companies have invested and set up factories in Hungary, and photovoltaic projects have helped Hungary's green development...... Chinese enterprises in Hungary are actively broadening the bridge of Sino-Hungarian cooperation.
On July 29, 2022, the China-Europe freight train from Hefei to Budapest, Hungary departed from the logistics base of Hefei North Railway Station (drone photo). A number of China-Europe freight trains passing through Hungary and the "Air Silk Road" have become important logistics channels between China and Europe. Taking the Cheper Port Logistics Park in the China-Europe Trade and Logistics Park as an example, Budapest's unique geographical location, coupled with China's advanced logistics mode and experience, has greatly improved transportation efficiency and shortened logistics time. Wu Jiang, CEO of the China-Europe Trade and Logistics Park, imagines a new future. "When the Hungarian-Serbian railway is completed and opened, Budapest will be able to connect directly to the Greek port of Piraeus," he said, adding that the speed of logistics and regional connectivity will reach a new level. Balta Attila, general manager of Hungarian Idol Technology Co., Ltd., said that through the matchmaking of the Sino-European trade and logistics park, his company can not only be the exclusive agent of Chinese brands, but also expand the surrounding markets such as Poland, the Czech Republic, Romania, and enter the field of e-commerce, "We have the opportunity to develop together with Chinese enterprises." Frequent high-level exchanges, strong cooperation pulses, and rich people-to-people exchanges have continuously injected new impetus into China-Hungary friendship. "The most similar thing about our two peoples is that they are very friendly and very hospitable." Hao Qingxin said with a smile at the end of the interview. Hearing that the reporter was from China, the band in a century-old shop in Budapest immediately played "The Moon Represents My Heart". The gentle violin and the "Hungarian dulcimer" Simbaron interweave a joyful melody to welcome partners from afar.
Source丨Xinhua News Agency
Producer丨Ou Can, Hou Dawei, Editor丨Liu Jianwei, Yan Shan, Qian Zongyang, Han Jie, Zheng Pengrui