Fudan University Education Development Foundation donated medical supplies to Hungary amid global pandemic challenge.

Due to the spread of COVID-19, Hungary has declared a nationwide state of emergency. Recently, President Xu Ningsheng of Fudan University wrote to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, Minister of the Hungarian Ministry for Innovation and Technology László Palkovics, and Governor of the Central Bank of Hungary György Matolcsy respectively, conveying the support of the Fudan community to the Hungarians on their battle against the coronavirus.

Thanks to the fund provided by the Research Institute of Fudan University in Ningbo, Fudan University Education Development Foundation teamed up with the Bank of China to donate to theHungarian government 51,000face masks and 300 protective suits, among which 10,000 masks and 100 protective suits were delivered to Semmelweis University, the best medical school in Hungary and the country’s frontline bastion against COVID-19. To acquire medical supplies during this hard time, Fudan Office of Global Partnerships called on all other departments to gather protective items from various sources to the best of their ability.

Professor Chen Zhimin, vice president of Fudan University (4th from right), Zhao Rong, head of the Bank of China Shanghai Branch (5th from left) and staff members pose for a photo at the donation ceremony. Medical supplies (in the back) are ready to leave for Hungary.

Another donation of 5,000 face masks was made by Fudan School of Economics, intended to be sent to Corvinus University of Budapest, its cherished academic and research partner.Launched in Budapest in 2018, Fudan-Corvinus Double-degree Program in Finance is Fudan’s first English-taught degree program carried out overseas, aiming to cultivate senior professionals in the finance sector with profound knowledge of China.

Donated supplies are packaged with boxes printed with Hungarian national anthem lyrics “Nyujts feléje védõ kart, Ha Kuzd ellenseggel” meaning “extend a protective arm if they fight the enemy”.

On April 6, an air freighter arranged by the Consulate General of Hungary in Shanghai, loaded with the donated supplies, arrived in Budapest. Upon its arrival, Iván Kovácsics, Counsellor of the Hungarian Ministry for Innovation and Technology, Levente Horváth, General Advisor to the Governor of the Central Bank of Hungary, and officials of the Bank of China Hungarian Branch had already waited on the airport tarmac to ensure speedy delivery of the supplies. Among these dignitaries was Levente Horváth, an outstanding Fudan alumnus. He obtained his bachelor’s and master’s degree at Fudan University, returned to Hungary, and has since been advising Hungarian public institutions on matters concerning China.

Iván Kovácsics, Counsellor of Hungarian Ministry for Innovation and Technology, Levente Horváth, General Advisor to the Governor of the Central Bank of Hungary and Fudan alumnus, and officials of the Bank of China Hungarian Branch welcomed the donations at the Budapest airport.

On April 7, President Xu Ningsheng received a letter of appreciation from Minister László Palkovics. In the letter, the Minister thanked Fudan University and spoke highly of China’s commitment to participating in the global efforts to control the spread of COVID-19. He believes the support and assistance offered by Fudan University is a tangible proof of the valuable friendship between the university and Hungary and fortifies the grounds of closer cooperation in the future.

According to the Hungarian side, Fudan University is among the very first entities and the first Chinese University to extend help to Hungary. Fudan's action received wide attention and was reported by more than 26 Hungarian media organizations.

Fudan University deepened its ties with Hungary in December 2019, when President Xu Ningsheng signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Dr. László Palkovics, Minister of the Hungarian Ministry for Innovation and Technology on joint efforts leading towards a Fudan campus in Budapest, which marked a milestone for Fudan in terms of international cooperation on education.

During this stressful time, Fudan stands with its Hungarian partners. It is Fudan’s most sincere wish that Hungary will soon triumph over COVID-19.