After 24 years, Chinese Prime Minister revisits Hungary

Prime Minister Wen Jiabao arrived at ELTE on 24th June, 2011, Friday. In front of the Gólyavár, the ELTE Folk Dance Group greeted him, the atmosphere was enhanced by the lion dancers of the Hungarian Chan Wu Association. The stairs leading to the Maria Theresia Hall were filled with enthusiastic Hungarian and Chinese students, who were waving Hungarian and Chinese flags, greeting the Prime Minister.

The opening speech was delivered by the Rector of ELTE, Barna Mezey. The Confucius Institute, the students of the Departement of East-Asian Studies, the Hungarian-Chinese Bilingual Primary School students and the members of the Chan Wu Association gave a short program for the always smiling and cheerful Prime Minister.

The Choir of the ELTE Departement of Music, as part of the Ferenc Liszt jubilee year, performed the Ave Maria by the composer. The Hungarian-Chinese Bilingual Primary School students entertained the Prime Minister with music and poetry.

Following the kung-fu and the taiji performance of the Chan Wu Association, Ádám Dunai, a student of the ELTE Confucius Institute came on stage with the poem, Sándor Petőfi Freedom, love, in both Hungarian and Chinese. The poem was followed by a song: Lajos Palásti, a student of the Chinese Departement, performed the Chinese folk song, Never resting sunbeams above the plain, accompanied by violinist Csongor Veér, Junior Prima Prize winner.

In the second part of the meeting, the Prime Minister talked about the dynamic improvement of Hungarian-Chinese relations, highlighting the successful work of the ELTE Confucius Institute and the effectiveness of the recently held European Conference in Budapest.

He gave an opportunity for the students to ask him questions, which he answered with good cheer in a friendly voice. Finally, he handed the deeds of a valuable book donation to the head of the ELTE Confucius Institute, Imre Hamar, and a photo was taken with the Prime Minister and the student performers.