The members of the Chinese delegation attending the event included Wei Zengjun, Deputy Governor of the Shaanxi Provincial People’s Government, Wei Wenzhu, Deputy Secretary General, Zhao Runmin, Director of the Department of Commerce, Ren Zongze, Director of the Culture and Tourism Department, and Yao Hongjuan, Director of the Foreign Affairs Office. The guests on the Hungarian side included Kakas Béla, Governor of Csongrád County, Fendler Judit, Chancellor of the University of Szeged (SZTE), Szabó Gábor, former Rector of SZTE, Zakar Péter Vice-Rector of SZTE, Bene Tamás, Director of the International Relations Office, SZTE, and Pető Ernő, President of the Hungarian-Chinese Economic Chamber of Commerce. The meeting was moderated by Tóth Alexandria, Head of the Secretariat, SZTE CI, and interpreted by Mohr Richárd, the Hungarian Director of SZTE CI.

After the formal meeting began, Chancellor Fendler gave a welcome speech. On behalf of the University of Szeged, she promised a sustained support for a better platform for the exchanges between universities in China and Hungary. She also made a special mention of the positive role played by SZTE CI in this regard.

On behalf of the County Government of Csongrád, Mr. Béla extended a warm welcome to the delegation of Shaanxi Province. He emphasized the importance of the “One Belt, One Road” policy of the Chinese government, and reviewed the positive results achieved in the 25 years since the establishment of the friendly ties between Csongrád County and Shaanxi Province and between their cities. He also hoped that the all-round and multi-field cooperation between Csongrád County and Shaanxi Province would be further broadened.

In his speech, Mr. Wei Zengjun expressed his sincere gratitude to SZTE and SZTE CI for their efforts in promoting the friendly exchanges between the two countries. He pointed out that China and Hungary have achieved fruitful cooperation in various fields such as economy, trade and humanities, and China-Hungary relations have entered the best period in history. Shaanxi is accelerating the construction of the “Belt and Road” core area and vigorously developing the hub economy, the portal economy and the mobile economy. This visit would continue to promote the friendly relations between Shaanxi Province and Csongrád County.

A Szegedi Tudományegyetem bemutatását követően Dr. habil Zakar Péter és Dr. Bene Tamás röviden ismertették az egyetem jövőbeli terveit és projektjeit a kínai vendégek számára. Ugyanakkor kitértek az olyan csereprogramok ismertetésére is, mint például az Állam- és Jogtudományi Kar (ÁJTK) által kínált Kapu Program (Gateway Program) vagy a Gyógyszerészeti Kar (GYTK) által kínált ösztöndíj programok. Mindketten reményeiket fejezték ki, hogy a két fél közötti együttműködés a gazdaság, politika, kutatás és fejlesztés, illetve az oktatás területén is az együttműködés magasabb fokát valósítják meg.

Prof. Zakar and Dr. Bene briefed the Chinese guests on the development status and future prospects of the University of Szeged. They particularly mentioned the exchange programs offered by the Law School and the School of Pharmacy of SZTE as well as its varied scholarships. They both expressed their hope that through the efforts of both sides the co-operation in economy, politics, scientific research and education would reach a higher level.

Mr. Zhao Runmin introduced the situation of Shaanxi's foreign economic and trade cooperation, and hoped that this visit would help promote cooperation between the two sides in logistics warehousing, two-way investment, technology research and development, service trade, and dentistry.

Prof. Gabor, former Rector of SZTE, now the head of the Szeged Science Park, introduced the laser research center and the planning of the science and technology industrial park. He hoped that the two sides would have new cooperation and exchanges in the fields of biological science and material science for the mutual development of the two countries.

Prof. Ren Zongze introduced the rich cultural and tourism resources of Shaanxi Province and invited everyone to participate in the “4th Silk Road International Expo” to be held in the ancient city of Xi'an in May 2019.

Finally, the two parties presented gifts to each other and the meeting was successfully concluded.

Before the meeting, the Shaanxi Provincial Government delegation visited the Confucius Institute accompanied by Richárd Mohr and Wang Lei, the two directors of SZTE CI. The delegation listened carefully to the introduction to SZTE by Mr. Wang and spoke highly of its achievements of the Confucius Institute and its role as a bridge facilitating the exchanges between China and Hungary.

As China’s business card and a window and bridge for cultural exchanges and mutual understanding between China and rest of the world, Confucius Institutes have made important contributions to the spread of Chinese language and culture and exchanges and cooperation in various fields between China and foreign countries. Since its establishment in 2012, the Confucius Institute at the University of Szeged has made it its mission to promote the educational and cultural exchanges and cooperation between China and Hungary. It has been playing a facilitating role in a down-to-earth and painstaking manner.

(Report: Zhang Xiuwen)