Editor's Note:

"Chinese fever" has been a notable trend in Hungary for years, rooted in deep historical and cultural ties as well as practical, real-life connections. The friendship between China and Hungary has flourished for a long time. As Hungary's Eastern Opening strategy is closely aligned with the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), more and more Chinese companies are making investment and seeking development in Hungary, fostering closer people-to-people and cultural exchanges between the two countries. For the local people, the importance of learning Chinese has grown significantly.

Attila Endre Simay, known in Chinese as Xi Lisong, has been learning Chinese for 15 years, a pursuit that has profoundly influenced his life. To him, learning a language is not a sprint, but a marathon, which requires continuous efforts and enthusiasm.

Learning Chinese in all conditions

"Lie like a bow, and stand like a pine tree." Inspired by this lyric, my first Chinese teacher gave me the Chinese name "Lisong," meaning a standing pine tree.

In 2009, Xi Jinping, then vice president of the People's Republic of China, visited Hungary, which coincided with the start of my Chinese learning journey. Although his visit was not the direct reason for my decision to learn Chinese, I got my last name from this event — my Chinese teacher gave me the last name "席," which pronounced the same in Chinese with that of President Xi but written in different characters. This has often sparked conversations when I introduce myself to Chinese friends.

Most of my classmates in the Chinese learning class began their courses in 2009. Since China hosted the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008, they were deeply impressed by the quality of this global event and the charm and capabilities it showcased for Beijing. However, my reasons differed slightly. In 2008, I was pursuing a PhD in Marketing at the Corvinus University of Budapest, Hungary. At that time, few economists in Hungary were focusing on China and its economy. After discussions with my supervisor and several professors of the university, I realized the importance to learn Chinese and decided to study Chinese economy as a key example of world economic development.