Celebrating 10th anniversary of ‘Hubei Class’ at Hungarian-Chinese Bilingual School
Senior Chinese and Hungarian government officials, students and teachers gathered Friday to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the "Hubei Class" at the Hungarian-Chinese Bilingual School.
Founded in September 2004, the Budapest-based Hungarian-Chinese bilingual school is the only full-time school across Central and Eastern Europe that uses Chinese in addition to the local language for instruction. Currently, the school has 12 grades, 20 classes and over 530 students. The “Hubei Class” was first introduced at the school in 2013, allowing for closer connections with the Hubei people, especially students in the province.
The celebration event was held through a video conference, with the Hungarian side gathering at their school and the Chinese side joining in from Yichang International School, Longpanhu (YIS).
Over the past 10 years, several primary and secondary schools in Hubei province and the Hungarian-Chinese bilingual school have held many exchange activities including mutual visits, youth summer camps and in-depth local cultural experiences.
Scene from the 10th anniversary of Hungarian-Chinese Bilingual School’s ‘Hubei Class,’ held at Yichang International School, Longpanhu (YIS) on Friday.
"Because there is a place in faraway China that gives the school's teachers and students something to hold on to, it is something that makes people feel happy when they think about it," said Vice President of the Hungarian Parliament Lajos Oláh, who also serves as President of the Great Wall Hungarian-Chinese Friendship Association, during the event through a video recording. Within these programs, Hungarian students can experience Hubei’s “Jing-Chu” culture through music, kung fu and tea. In addition, these activities can help to build deep friendships between the youth of both countries.
Chinese students at Yichang International School, Longpanhu (YIS) perform traditional Chinese music at the ceremony.
Oláh emphasized that China is a vast country and Hubei serves as an important transportation hub. Its many products, natural wealth and landscapes are world-renowned. He also introduced the capital city of Hungary and discussed the invention of the Rubik's Cube. "I believe that the cooperation between the two sides will enable each participant to better 'taste' the culture of the other," he said.
Hungarian students of the Hungarian-Chinese bilingual school perform Chinese arts at the ceremony over video.
Photo by Sun Yu, from Yichang International School, Longpanhu (YIS).
