The 56 thousand masks and 300 pieces of protective clothing donated by the Chinese higher education institution arrived in Hungary together with other donations on 6 April 2020 aboard a plane from Shanghai. The University, which is planning on establishing a campus in Budapest, already regards Hungary as its second home, and this is why its directors feel it important to provide assistance in this difficult situation.
The equipment needed to protect against the coronavirus pandemic are currently primarily available in large quantities from China. Relations between Hungary and China have developed favourably over the past decade in the spirit if Hungary’s Eastern Opening policy, and Fudan University regards cooperation with Hungary as especially important. The institution maintains an extremely good relationship with both the Ministry for Innovation and Technology and the Hungarian National Bank. In addition to donations from the Chinese government and various Chinese provinces, cities and enterprises, Fudan University is the first Chinese university to pledge protective equipment, which arrived safely in Hungary early on Monday afternoon as part of a shipment coordinated by the Hungarian Consulate General in Shanghai.
According to the prestigious international rating, the QS World University Ranking, Fudan is the 40th best university in the world. The Shanghai-based institution has over 4500 lecturers, teaching over 30 thousand students.
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán received a delegation from the university at the end of last October. In December 2019, Minister for Innovation and Technology László Palkovics signed a memorandum of understanding with President of Fudan University Xu Ningsheng, in which the parties confirm their common interest in the establishment of the institution’s campus in Budapest.
None of China’s universities, which fall under the direct supervision of the relative Ministry, currently have a foreign campus. Thanks to our excellent cooperation, Hungary could become a regional knowledge centre. Fudan University’s role in Hungary as one of the world’s frontrunners will accelerate the ongoing internationalisation of Hungarian higher education. The development of the details of the new campus is being performed within the framework of an intensive joint effort to ensure the earliest possible commencement of construction and education.