On November 29th, the China-Hungary (Zhengzhou) International Cooperation and Industrial Technology Application Demonstration Center, housed in a distinctive building symbolizing a "Window to Time and Space", was officially inaugurated at the Longhu International Center in Zhengdong New District, Zhengzhou city, capital of Henan province. The opening of the Demonstration Center marks a new chapter in scientific innovation and industrial cooperation between Henan Province and Hungary.
The Demonstration Center as the first official international project in Henan province was established through a collaboration between the Hungarian Export Promotion Agency and the Zhengzhou Municipal Government, with support from the Hungarian Innovation Agency, as well as its business and foreign affairs departments. The Demonstration Center aims to create an international cooperation platform focused on the industrial, talent, and trade needs of Zhengzhou and the Central Plains region, with a goal of driving innovation and serving as a model for further collaboration.
Wang Jinsong, a Second-Level Inspector at the European Department of China's Ministry of Commerce, noted that Hungary was the first European country to sign an intergovernmental cooperation agreement with China under the Belt and Road Initiative. Hungary also stands as China's third-largest trading partner in Central and Eastern Europe. This year commemorates the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Hungary, a milestone that coincides with the elevation of their bilateral partnership to a "comprehensive strategic partnership", which has injected significant momentum into the high-level development of trade and economic cooperation between the two nations.
In recent years, the ties between Henan and Hungary have grown increasingly closer. Zhengzhou has launched a cargo charter flight route and a China-Europe Railway Express (Zhengzhou) route to Hungary's capital Budapest. Companies like Antu Biological from Henan province have entered the Hungarian market. In the first ten months of this year, Henan's imports from Hungary increased by 154.6%, driven by products including precision instruments, auto parts, and food.
Budapest and Zhengzhou, though separated by thousands of miles, share many similarities: one is a central hub in Europe, the other in China. Both are key cities and guardians of history and culture, while also pioneers in future development. Robert Somogyi, Chief Operating Officer of the Hungarian Innovation Agency, expressed his enthusiasm upon visiting Zhengzhou. He highlighted that innovation is key to addressing contemporary challenges and it thrives on collaboration. Somogyi noted that Zhengzhou's rapidly growing high-tech industry aligns closely with Budapest's dynamic innovation ecosystem. There is huge potential for cooperation in fields such as new energy vehicles, clean energy, advanced manufacturing, and biotechnology. The establishment of the Demonstration Center marks the commencement of a deeper cooperation between the two cities.
"The Hungarian Export Promotion Agency has nine offices in China, with one located in Henan. The Demonstration Center in Zhengzhou will play a key role in promoting cooperation between China and Hungary in various sectors such as technology, trade, education, and culture," said Csacho Melinda, Director at the Hungarian Export Promotion Agency. Melinda has a unique bond with Henan Province. During her high school years, she came to Zhengzhou to learn kung fu.
On the day of the unveiling ceremony, the Demonstration Center signed key projects with the Hungarian Innovation Agency, Huanyu Tongda Aviation Co., Beijing Institute of Technology Zhengzhou Research Institute, United Nations Peace University ECPD, China-Hungary International Logistics Park, and Berlin Zhonghua Gallery. Chinese and Hungarian business representatives also conducted on-site promotions.
"The Center is tasked with four key functions: international scientific and technological cooperation, international trade cooperation, international education cooperation, and international cultural exchange," said Zhang Ya, Director of the Demonstration Center. The Center will create platforms for high-end Sino-Hungarian scientific research collaboration, international talent gathering and services, and the industrial application of advanced technologies. It will also partner with international universities to establish talent training bases, offer undergraduate and vocational programs, introduce technological resources, facilitate the commercialization of scientific innovations, and enhance cultural exchanges, setting a new benchmark for international cooperation in Henan.
Balogh Andras Zoltan, Innovation and Technology Counselor at the Hungarian Embassy in China highlighted Hungary's prominence as a European hub for technological innovation, with 17 Nobel laureates and significant achievements in biomedicine, information technology, and scientific research. He noted that the long-standing friendship between Hungary and China offers vast opportunities for cooperation. The establishment and operation of the Demonstration Center will be pivotal in deepening and advancing economic and trade cooperation between the two countries. (Chinese source: Henan Daily Reporter: Wang Yanhui and Shen Jianqi Translator: Ding Lan)
