STORY: Hungarian university's Chinese department celebrates 100th birthday
SHOOTING TIME: Nov. 20, 2023
DATELINE: Nov. 22, 2023
LENGTH: 00:02:18
LOCATION: Budapest
CATEGORY: CULTURE

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the ceremony
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): LASZLO BORHY, Rector of Eotvos Lorand University (ELTE)
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): GONG TAO, Chinese Ambassador to Hungary
4. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): VIKTOR ESZTERHAI, Research director of the Hungarian Institute of International Affairs
5. SOUNDBITE 4 (English): IMRE HAMAR, Director of ELTE's Confucius Institute and head of the Department of Chinese Studies

STORYLINE:

The Department of Chinese Studies at Hungary's Eotvos Lorand University (ELTE) celebrated its 100th birthday in Budapest on Monday.
   
The university's rector Laszlo Borhy highlighted the institution's vital role in fostering Hungarian-Chinese relations over the last century.
   
He said that the university is the only institution in Hungary to offer comprehensive Chinese studies, from undergraduate to doctoral levels.
   
SOUNDBITE 1 (English): LASZLO BORHY, Rector of Eotvos Lorand University (ELTE)
"Our university was among the first in Central and Eastern Europe to establish an independent department for the university level education of Chinese language and culture."

"Graduates have gone on to become professors, translators, and ambassadors, contributing to the flourishing of Hungarian-Chinese relations today," he added.

Chinese Ambassador to Hungary Gong Tao commended the department for fostering cultural, educational, and language exchanges between Hungary and China. He noted the establishment of Hungary's first Confucius Institute in 2006 at ELTE.

SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): GONG TAO, Chinese Ambassador to Hungary
"The construction and development of the Department of Chinese Studies at Eotvos Lorand University have witnessed the endless charm of cooperation between China and Hungary in the fields of culture, education, and language exchange and learning. It has also witnessed the continuous growth of the solid foundation of the friendly relations between the two countries."

Viktor Eszterhai, research director of the Hungarian Institute of International Affairs, emphasized the growing significance of China's cultural heritage.

SOUNDBITE 3 (English): VIKTOR ESZTERHAI, Research director of the Hungarian Institute of International Affairs
"China is undergoing transformation that is best captured by the Chinese term 'Fuxing,' the country is experiencing a kind of renaissance, with which it is regaining its former civilizational significance. It is therefore crucial to train experts who are familiar with the Chinese cultural and civilizational heritage."
   
Imre Hamar, director of ELTE's Confucius Institute and head of the Department of Chinese Studies, stressed the department's need to evolve, while preserving its century-old tradition in Sinology.

SOUNDBITE 4 (English): IMRE HAMAR, Director of ELTE's Confucius Institute and head of the Department of Chinese Studies
"I believe that the future development of the Chinese department can only be insured by preserving our century-old sinological tradition while continuingly responding to new challenges, and innovatively shaping Chinese education."
   
The commemorative event included a concert by students from the Zhejiang Conservatory of Music of China, Guzheng performances, a Lion Dance, and a Kungfu display.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Budapest.
(XHTV)