Orbán to Borrow from China for Fudan University’s €1.5B Budapest Campus, Which Costs More Than to Run Hungary's Entire Higher Education System for a Year
A report published by the Hungarian investigative journalism centre Direkt36 on 6 April says Fudan University’s new Budapest Campus, the first European campus of the Chinese university, will cost a whopping 1.5 billion euros (around 13.9 billion HK dollars)—more than what the eastern European country spent on its entire higher education system in 2019. The project will depend mainly on Chinese loans. The report further reveals that the Hungarian Ministry of Innovation and Technology, which will supervise the project, has recommended the China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) to be the builder with the firm indicating that a certain amount of Chinese material and labour will be employed.
The non-profit Direkt36 has gained access to a series of documents about the new campus, including a draft proposal by László Palkovics, Hungary’s innovation and technology minister. According to the proposal, the government estimates the cost to be 1.5 billion euros without taking into account the infrastructure costs and other expenses. This exceeds its entire expenditure on the country’s higher education system in 2019, which clocked in at 1.3 billion euros (around 12 billion HK dollars). It is further stated in the proposal that part of the cost will be covered directly by Hungary with the rest covered by loans from China. The China Development Bank will provide a loan of 1.3 billion euros on preferential terms.
According to Direkt36, the CSCEC made a bid of under one billion euros (around 9.23 billion HK dollars) and secured the innovation and technology ministry’s recommendation. The report says the CSCEC made it clear in its tender that a certain number of Chinese workers will take part in the project and building material will be imported from China. The report says further that the Hungarian government has decided that China shall be the sole constructor with a commissioner appointed by the innovation and technology ministry supervising the project.
Source: Stand News #Apr08
#Hungary #China #Fudan #Education #Diplomacy
https://bit.ly/3soyrBN
A report published by the Hungarian investigative journalism centre Direkt36 on 6 April says Fudan University’s new Budapest Campus, the first European campus of the Chinese university, will cost a whopping 1.5 billion euros (around 13.9 billion HK dollars)—more than what the eastern European country spent on its entire higher education system in 2019. The project will depend mainly on Chinese loans. The report further reveals that the Hungarian Ministry of Innovation and Technology, which will supervise the project, has recommended the China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) to be the builder with the firm indicating that a certain amount of Chinese material and labour will be employed.
The non-profit Direkt36 has gained access to a series of documents about the new campus, including a draft proposal by László Palkovics, Hungary’s innovation and technology minister. According to the proposal, the government estimates the cost to be 1.5 billion euros without taking into account the infrastructure costs and other expenses. This exceeds its entire expenditure on the country’s higher education system in 2019, which clocked in at 1.3 billion euros (around 12 billion HK dollars). It is further stated in the proposal that part of the cost will be covered directly by Hungary with the rest covered by loans from China. The China Development Bank will provide a loan of 1.3 billion euros on preferential terms.
According to Direkt36, the CSCEC made a bid of under one billion euros (around 9.23 billion HK dollars) and secured the innovation and technology ministry’s recommendation. The report says the CSCEC made it clear in its tender that a certain number of Chinese workers will take part in the project and building material will be imported from China. The report says further that the Hungarian government has decided that China shall be the sole constructor with a commissioner appointed by the innovation and technology ministry supervising the project.
Source: Stand News #Apr08
#Hungary #China #Fudan #Education #Diplomacy
https://bit.ly/3soyrBN
立場新聞 Stand News
匈媒：復旦大學匈牙利分校耗資 15 億歐元 貴過匈牙利全年高等教育 匈政府向華借錢興建 | 立場報道 | 立場新聞
上海復旦大學計劃於匈牙利布達佩斯開設首家歐洲分校。匈牙利調查報道機構 Direkt36 昨日（6 日）發表報道...
Hungary prevents the EU from discussing Hong Kong related bills, members of the European Parliament denounced as “Trojan Horses” for China
According to the report from South China Morning Post, EU withdrew the proposal which related to China tighten Hong Kong governance, since they cannot get the recognitions from 27 member countries. Reuters stated that the proposal was rejected by Hungary. Hungary is considered to have close relations with China, and it is one of the countries that have signed the “One Belt One Road” agreement, and China was the biggest overseas investor of Hungary in 2020. SCMP quoted from a member of the European Parliament, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban is being a “playing a double game” and attempting to profit by travelling between the EU and China. He described Hungary is “Trojan Horses” of China.
SMCP stated, this proposal originally scheduled for EU action, to respond to the “major electoral reforms implemented in Hong Kong”, saying that these reforms are different from Hong Kong’s ultimate promise of universal elections. The proposal listed 12 concrete actions, including comprehensive review the relations between EU and Hong Kong, discuss China’s “Extradition Law” with member countries, coordinate relations with Hong Kong with the United Nations and G7, review the rule of law in Hong Kong, respond to the Hong Kong version of the “National Security Law” which also applicable to local people in European Union, and strengthen cooperation with civil society to promote freedom of speech, and liaise with business and civil society organisations to “build a new platform for Hong Kong”.
This is not the first time that Hungary stops EU for taking actions to China. There were reports from last month which stated Hungary stops EU for announcing a statement condemning China’s implementation of the National Security Law in Hong Kong. The report quoted Senior EU diplomat and indicated, “The point of view of Hungary is, EU and China already have so many problems”.
Source: Stand News #May06
https://bit.ly/3uMxMfe
#Hungary #EuropeanUnion #HongKong #China #UnitedNations #SMCP #Reuters #ExtraditionLaw #NationalSecurityLaw
According to the report from South China Morning Post, EU withdrew the proposal which related to China tighten Hong Kong governance, since they cannot get the recognitions from 27 member countries. Reuters stated that the proposal was rejected by Hungary. Hungary is considered to have close relations with China, and it is one of the countries that have signed the “One Belt One Road” agreement, and China was the biggest overseas investor of Hungary in 2020. SCMP quoted from a member of the European Parliament, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban is being a “playing a double game” and attempting to profit by travelling between the EU and China. He described Hungary is “Trojan Horses” of China.
SMCP stated, this proposal originally scheduled for EU action, to respond to the “major electoral reforms implemented in Hong Kong”, saying that these reforms are different from Hong Kong’s ultimate promise of universal elections. The proposal listed 12 concrete actions, including comprehensive review the relations between EU and Hong Kong, discuss China’s “Extradition Law” with member countries, coordinate relations with Hong Kong with the United Nations and G7, review the rule of law in Hong Kong, respond to the Hong Kong version of the “National Security Law” which also applicable to local people in European Union, and strengthen cooperation with civil society to promote freedom of speech, and liaise with business and civil society organisations to “build a new platform for Hong Kong”.
This is not the first time that Hungary stops EU for taking actions to China. There were reports from last month which stated Hungary stops EU for announcing a statement condemning China’s implementation of the National Security Law in Hong Kong. The report quoted Senior EU diplomat and indicated, “The point of view of Hungary is, EU and China already have so many problems”.
Source: Stand News #May06
https://bit.ly/3uMxMfe
#Hungary #EuropeanUnion #HongKong #China #UnitedNations #SMCP #Reuters #ExtraditionLaw #NationalSecurityLaw
立場新聞 Stand News
匈牙利再阻歐盟討論香港相關議案 歐洲議會議員斥為中國做「特洛伊木馬」 | 立場報道 | 立場新聞
《南華早報》報道，歐盟再因無法取得 27 成員國的認可，撤回一份有關中國收緊香港管治的議案。《路透社》指議案是...
Germany slams Hungary for blocking EU criticism of China on Hong Kong
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas on Monday lambasted Hungary for an “absolutely incomprehensible” decision to block an EU statement accusing Beijing of cracking down on democracy in Hong Kong.
EU foreign ministers have been unable to adopt the text even though diplomats said it had already been watered down to get Hungary’s backing. EU foreign policy decisions require unanimity to pass.
“This is not the first time that Hungary has broken away from [the EU’s] unity when it comes to the issue of China,” Maas told reporters after the latest meeting of the bloc’s Foreign Affairs Council on Monday.
Source: Politico #May11
https://t.co/ScFSOubnp3
#Hungary #Germany #Hungary #EU #China #HongKong
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas on Monday lambasted Hungary for an “absolutely incomprehensible” decision to block an EU statement accusing Beijing of cracking down on democracy in Hong Kong.
EU foreign ministers have been unable to adopt the text even though diplomats said it had already been watered down to get Hungary’s backing. EU foreign policy decisions require unanimity to pass.
“This is not the first time that Hungary has broken away from [the EU’s] unity when it comes to the issue of China,” Maas told reporters after the latest meeting of the bloc’s Foreign Affairs Council on Monday.
Source: Politico #May11
https://t.co/ScFSOubnp3
#Hungary #Germany #Hungary #EU #China #HongKong
Planned Chinese university in Hungary rouses widespread protest
There are no signs of any excavators or cranes yet in the Budapest district of Ferencvaros. But Prime Minister Viktor Orban's government is hoping to see them roar into action soon. China's renowned Shanghai-based Fudan University intends to open its first foreign campus here in 2024 as the first Chinese university in the European Union.
But the plan has met with considerable opposition. According to a recent poll by Budapest's Republikon Institute, 66% of Hungarians oppose the construction project, including many supporters of the ruling Fidesz party. The opposition is trying to prevent the campus with all means at its disposal, above all, Budapest's mayor, Gergely Karacsony of Hungary's green-liberal party Parbeszed. He wants to enter the race against Viktor Orban in next year's parliamentary elections for the united opposition list.
Source : Deutsche Wells #Jun04
https://bit.ly/3x3dC1A
#Chinese #University #EU #Hungary
There are no signs of any excavators or cranes yet in the Budapest district of Ferencvaros. But Prime Minister Viktor Orban's government is hoping to see them roar into action soon. China's renowned Shanghai-based Fudan University intends to open its first foreign campus here in 2024 as the first Chinese university in the European Union.
But the plan has met with considerable opposition. According to a recent poll by Budapest's Republikon Institute, 66% of Hungarians oppose the construction project, including many supporters of the ruling Fidesz party. The opposition is trying to prevent the campus with all means at its disposal, above all, Budapest's mayor, Gergely Karacsony of Hungary's green-liberal party Parbeszed. He wants to enter the race against Viktor Orban in next year's parliamentary elections for the united opposition list.
Source : Deutsche Wells #Jun04
https://bit.ly/3x3dC1A
#Chinese #University #EU #Hungary
Thousands of Hungarians Protest against building a campus of a university from China
On June 5, 2021, over 10,000 people protest the extention of #FudanUniversity from the People's Republic of China (#PRC) to #Budapest, #Hungary.
According to some leaked internal documents, the deal to build a 500,000 sq metre campus with an estimated cost of €1.5bn was signed between Prime Minister #ViktorOrban's government and the Shanghai-based university. It was also revealed that China will lend €1.3bn to Hungary as a loan.
Back in 2019, the University deleted references to "freedom of thought" from its charter.
Moreover, many Hungarians fear that this would become yet another part of China's debt diplomacy. The call for "No Fudan! West, not East!" was displayed at the protest.
Critics call the current pro-China Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orban as China and Russia's "Trojan horse" inside the European Union and Nato.
Source: Stand News; AFP #Jun5
https://beta.thestandnews.com/international/%E5%B8%83%E9%81%94%E4%BD%A9%E6%96%AF%E9%80%BE%E8%90%AC%E4%BA%BA%E4%B8%8A%E8%A1%97%E5%8F%8D%E5%B0%8D%E5%BB%BA%E4%B8%AD%E5%9C%8B%E5%BE%A9%E6%97%A6%E5%88%86%E6%A0%A1-%E5%9C%B0%E6%96%B9%E6%94%BF%E5%BA%9C%E6%8A%8A%E8%A1%97%E9%81%93%E6%94%B9%E5%90%8D-%E5%85%89%E5%BE%A9%E9%A6%99%E6%B8%AF%E9%81%93
On June 5, 2021, over 10,000 people protest the extention of #FudanUniversity from the People's Republic of China (#PRC) to #Budapest, #Hungary.
According to some leaked internal documents, the deal to build a 500,000 sq metre campus with an estimated cost of €1.5bn was signed between Prime Minister #ViktorOrban's government and the Shanghai-based university. It was also revealed that China will lend €1.3bn to Hungary as a loan.
Back in 2019, the University deleted references to "freedom of thought" from its charter.
Moreover, many Hungarians fear that this would become yet another part of China's debt diplomacy. The call for "No Fudan! West, not East!" was displayed at the protest.
Critics call the current pro-China Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orban as China and Russia's "Trojan horse" inside the European Union and Nato.
Source: Stand News; AFP #Jun5
https://beta.thestandnews.com/international/%E5%B8%83%E9%81%94%E4%BD%A9%E6%96%AF%E9%80%BE%E8%90%AC%E4%BA%BA%E4%B8%8A%E8%A1%97%E5%8F%8D%E5%B0%8D%E5%BB%BA%E4%B8%AD%E5%9C%8B%E5%BE%A9%E6%97%A6%E5%88%86%E6%A0%A1-%E5%9C%B0%E6%96%B9%E6%94%BF%E5%BA%9C%E6%8A%8A%E8%A1%97%E9%81%93%E6%94%B9%E5%90%8D-%E5%85%89%E5%BE%A9%E9%A6%99%E6%B8%AF%E9%81%93
立場新聞 Stand News
布達佩斯逾萬人上街反對建中國復旦分校 地方政府把街道改名「光復香港道」 | 立場報道 | 立場新聞
匈牙利首都布達佩斯（Budapest）於周六（5日）有民眾上街示威，反對政府准許中國上海復旦大學於首都布達佩斯...
Hungary's proposed Fudan campus stirred public anger, prime minister promised to hold referendum for public's decision
A proposed campus of China's Fudan University in Budapest, the Hungarian capital, sparked a demonstration by 10,000 people on the 5th of this month against it. Local media later quoted government officials as saying that a referendum was planned for early 2023, at which point the people of Budapest could decide whether they wanted the Fudan campus. Reuters reported that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán promised on Thursday (10) to hold a referendum on a planned campus establishment for Chinese Fudan University.
Hungary will hold a general election early next year, and analysts say Viktor Orbán is shelving the campus project to defuse political tensions.
Hungarian pro-government media quoted Gergely Gulyas, Minister of Office to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, saying that plans for a Fudan campus have not yet begun. He also said that a referendum would be held in Budapest in early 2023 after the plan takes shape, at which point locals can decide whether they want a Fudan campus. In the past, Orbán has given up on promoting unpopular projects, such as a tax on Internet traffic.
Source: Stand News #Jun06
https://bit.ly/3hktw16
#Hungary #FudanUni #Budapest #Orbán
A proposed campus of China's Fudan University in Budapest, the Hungarian capital, sparked a demonstration by 10,000 people on the 5th of this month against it. Local media later quoted government officials as saying that a referendum was planned for early 2023, at which point the people of Budapest could decide whether they wanted the Fudan campus. Reuters reported that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán promised on Thursday (10) to hold a referendum on a planned campus establishment for Chinese Fudan University.
Hungary will hold a general election early next year, and analysts say Viktor Orbán is shelving the campus project to defuse political tensions.
Hungarian pro-government media quoted Gergely Gulyas, Minister of Office to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, saying that plans for a Fudan campus have not yet begun. He also said that a referendum would be held in Budapest in early 2023 after the plan takes shape, at which point locals can decide whether they want a Fudan campus. In the past, Orbán has given up on promoting unpopular projects, such as a tax on Internet traffic.
Source: Stand News #Jun06
https://bit.ly/3hktw16
#Hungary #FudanUni #Budapest #Orbán
Hungarian Mayor renames 4 streets to protest against the government allowing China's Fudan University to have a branch campus in Budapest.
#Hungary #FudanUniversity #GoHKgraphics
#Hungary #FudanUniversity #GoHKgraphics