Students at the Hungarian-Chinese Bilingual School in Budapest have shared the memorable moments of meeting Peng Liyuan, wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping, during her visit to the school on Thursday.
Accompanied by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's wife Aniko Levai, Peng visited the school on Thursday afternoon. With great interest, Peng and Levai watched classes on Chinese language and traditional Chinese culture such as paper cutting and calligraphy, and had cordial exchanges with the students.
She then watched the students' talent shows and the recitation of two poems. One of the poems was written by Sandor Petofi, dubbed Hungary's national poet. "First, I was really nervous, but then I was really happy when we finished. And I am really happy to have a photo with Peng. I was one of the four people who recited poems. The poem was about the home country and homeland of the Chinese people. Then we have one poem which was one of Petofi Sandor's poems," said Wang Wenni, a 11th-grade student of the school.
Li Fulin, another 11th-grade student, said he feels great honored to meet Peng. Li was also one of the student representatives to greet President Xi and his wife at the airport on Wednesday.
"I went to welcome President Xi and his wife at the airport yesterday. I shook hands with him. I was very excited and happy," said Li.
The Hungarian and Chinese Bilingual school is one of the symbols of the friendship between the two countries. Founded in September 2004, the school is the only full-time school in Central and Eastern Europe that teaches in Chinese and the local language. The school has 12 grades and 20 classes with more than 530 students in attendance.
Hungary is the last stop of Xi's three-nation European tour from May 5 to 10, which has already taken him to France and Serbia.
Students of Hungary-based school recount memorable moments meeting visiting Peng Liyuan
A Chinese mainland spokesperson said Lai Ching-te has sent "a dangerous signal" of seeking "Taiwan independence" and making provocations to undermine cross-Strait peace and stability in his speech upon assuming the role of Taiwan region's new leader on Monday.
Chen Binhua, a spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, described Lai's speech as one that stubbornly followed the "Taiwan independence" stance, wantonly advocated separatism, incited cross-Strait confrontation and sought independence by relying on foreign support and by force.
Chen said the mainstream public aspiration on the island is for peace and development, instead of war and recession, while Lai has ignored the public opinion, exposing his nature of being "a worker for Taiwan independence."
The current complex and grave situation across the Strait is rooted in the fact that the Democratic Progressive Party has stubbornly stuck to the separatist stance of "Taiwan independence," rejected the 1992 Consensus that embodies the one-China principle, and kept colluding with external forces to make provocations of seeking "Taiwan independence," Chen said.
Taiwan is an inalienable part of China, said Chen, stressing that "Taiwan independence" and peace across the Strait are incompatible as fire and water.
"We have firm determination to resolve the Taiwan question and realize national reunification; we have strong capabilities to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity; and we will take resolute actions to fight separatist activities seeking 'Taiwan independence' and external interference," he said.
"We will never tolerate any 'Taiwan independence' separatist acts in any form," said Chen.
China must and will be reunified, Chen stressed. No matter how the situation on the island changes and who assumes the regional leader, it will not change the fact that both sides of the Strait belong to one China, or impede the historical trend of national reunification, he said.
"We will fully implement the Party's overall policy for resolving the Taiwan question in the new era, unswervingly uphold the one-China principle and the 1992 Consensus, work together with Taiwan compatriots to promote the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations and cross-Strait integrated development, and resolutely advance the reunification of the motherland," said Chen.
Mainland says Lai sends "dangerous signal" in speech as Taiwan's new leader
