STORY: Hungary, China jointly issue special stamps marking Year of Dragon
SHOOTING TIME: Feb. 2, 2024
DATELINE: Feb. 3, 2024
LENGTH: 00:02:57
LOCATION: Budapest
CATEGORY: SOCIETY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the Chinese New Year reception
2. various of speeches
3. lion dance performance
4. Year of Dragon stamps
5. VIPs sign the first-day cover
6. first-day cover without signatures
7. Chinese zodiac stamps
8. people queue to buy the new stamps

STORYLINE:

A sheet of commemorative postage stamps marking the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, the Year of the Dragon, has been issued in Budapest.
   
The stamps were issued late Thursday night by the Hungarian Post, in collaboration with the Chinese Embassy in Hungary, Hungary's Ministry for National Economy and the China Cultural Center in Budapest.
   
The sheet of four stamps, designed by Hungarian graphic artist Katalin Bodi, will be printed in 20,000 copies.
   
The designer employed red and white for the background, with a pair of skillfully drawn red dragons on the white backdrop and another pair on the red. The words "Year of the Dragon" were inscribed on the stamp both in Chinese and Hungarian.
   
The typical Chinese dragon, depicted on the stamps, is a fascinating creature deeply embedded in Chinese culture and mythology. Chinese dragons are seen as benevolent and wise creatures with long, serpentine bodies that are incredibly flexible.
   
The stamp-issuance ceremony was attended by Chinese Ambassador to Hungary Gong Tao, Hungarian Minister for National Economy Marton Nagy, Chairman and CEO of the Hungarian Post Barnabas Balczo and Jin Hao, director of the China cultural center in Budapest. The ceremony took place during the embassy's Chinese New Year reception.

The Year of the Dragon stamp is the 11th New Year commemorative stamp issued by the Hungarian Post.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Budapest.
(XHTV)