The Taipei Representative Office in Hungary held a reception October 8, 2015, in celebration of the Republic of China’s 104th National Day at the historic and luxurious Gundel Restaurant in Budapest.
Since the establishment of the ROC in 1912 as Asia’s first democratic republic, it “has gone through political upheaval and turmoil, and relocated to Taiwan in 1949. Yet, despite all the hardship, the ROC has survived to this day and prospered along the way,” Representative Tao Wen-lung said in his speech at the event, which was attended by a capacity crowd of well-wishers and friends of Taiwan.
The country has become a strong democracy, the longest living democracy among Chinese-speaking societies, upholding the universal values of freedom and peace,” Tao said.
The representative stressed that friendship between Hungary and the ROC dates back a long time. The two countries share “common values of democracy and respect for human decency,” Tao said, noting that bilateral exchanges have grown over the years, whether in trade, education, or culture. “For example, in the first half of this year, Hungarian exports to Taiwan have increased about 20 percent. And there are 200 or so Taiwanese students enrolled in Hungarian higher-education institutions.”
He told the gathered guests that Hungary will be the theme country of the 2016 Taipei International Book Exhibition (TIBE) in February, adding that, at the end of October, the First Taiwan Documentary Festival in Budapest is being held.
Today’s Taiwan, Tao pointed out, is full of creative energy and a keen sense of entrepreneurship. “According to the World Competitiveness Report issued by the Institute for Management Development released this May, Taiwan ranks as the world’s 11th most competitive economy,” Tao said.
The representative encourages more exchanges among young people of Taiwan and Hungary, and hopes to see more growth in tourist visits between the two countries.
Dr. Imre Vejkey, member of the Hungarian Parliament and Taiwan Friendship Association, reminded the guests that the Taipei Representative Office was the ROC government’s first representation office to be set up in Central and Eastern Europe when it opened its doors 25 years ago. The office has helped facilitate cordial relationships and growing ties between Hungary and Taiwan for a quarter century.
Vejkey said that Hungary and Taiwan share the same values of democracy and freedom, and he expressed his hope that the two countries would continue to expand ties in cultural, economic, educational and tourism spheres.
Prior to dining on traditional Hungarian dishes, and after the singing of the Hungarian and ROC national anthems, the guests were treated to a mini opera of Rossini’s La Cenerentola, sung by Taiwanese and Hungarian students of the prestigious Franz Liszt Music Academy. During the reception, a classical trio performed chamber music and Taiwanese folk songs.
Guests who attended the reception included Dr. András Aradszki, minister of state in charge of energy at the Ministry of National Development; Attila Szabó, chef de Cabinet of the Constitutional Court; Deputy Speaker of the Hungarian Parliament István Jakab; Secretary General of Taiwan Friendship Association István Juhász; several members of the Hungarian Parliament, including Mónika Bartos and Gábor Fodor; members of the media, diplomatic corps, higher education and cultural institutes, as well as Taiwanese expatriates and visiting students.
