Students from quake zone conclude trip to Hungary

Ji Ping, deputy secretary-general of the China Foundation for Peace and Development, makes a speech at the summary meeting in Beijing on August 7. [Photo by Huyan Shuojing / chinadaily.com.cn]

Fifty students from the earthquake area of Ya'an, Sichuan province, Wednesday concluded a two-week free trip to Hungary for study exchange.

At the invitation of István Ujhelyi, vice chairman of the Hungarian Parliament and founder and chairman of the Confucius Institute at the University of Szeged, the students toured Lake Balaton, the Szeged city and the Hungarian capital of Budapest. Their expenses in Hungary were fully covered by the Confucius Institute at the University of Szeged.

"The trip helped promote the Sino-Hungarian friendship. The students learned about the Hungarian national culture during the trip. At the same time they showed their perseverance to endure the tragedy," said Ji Ping, deputy secretary-general of the China Foundation for Peace and Development. The foundation coordinated the trip and organized a meeting Wednesday to sum up the trip.

On the meeting, a student said: "The trip gave us a chance to feel the exotic scenery in Hungary and the friendly, hospitable character of Hungarian people. The various activities helped us recover from the shock of the earthquake. Through this special experience, I realized the value of international cultural exchanges. I'm determined on becoming a diplomat."

The foundation also donated books and other presents to the students at the meeting.

István Ujhelyi offered the trip during the fourth China-Europe High-Level Political Parties Forum in Suzhou (April 22-23), days after the 7-magnitude earthquake on the Ritcher scale struck Lushan, Ya'an on April 20.

In a summer camp near Lake Balaton, the children participated in swimming, mountain climbing, dancing, painting and other activities. In Szeged and Budapest, they visited the famous Hungarian Parliament Building and Fisherman's Bastion, and the Confucius Institute at the University of Szeged.

The students also paid a visit to the Chinese Embassy in Hungary during the trip, welcomed by Ambassador Xiao Qian.

Before and after the Hungarian tour, the students visited the National Library, the National Museum and the Tiananmen Square in Beijing.

In 2008, Hungary also invited 50 children for recovery in the country after a devastating earthquake rocked the Wenchuan county of Sichuan province.