Telling China’s Story Abroad: SISU Backpack Journalists Report from Hungary

 

By Ma Tan, He Luoyi, Du Wenjia, Chen Zhi，He Xinyi，Liang Ziping

Translated by Guo Yishun

In the golden days of early October, a group of fifteen students and faculty from Shanghai International Studies University (SISU) set out from Shanghai Pudong Airport with notebooks, cameras, and curiosity in hand. Their destination: Hungary.

Their mission: to explore how culture, education, and business weave new connections between China and Central Europe.

Under the theme “China–Hungary Connectivity: Cultural and Economic Interactions,” the eight-day field program—organized by SISU’s School of Journalism and Communication—put into practice the university’s signature “Multilingual + Journalism” model. The goal: to train global storytellers who can report across borders and cultures.

From Budapest’s Chinatown to Szeged’s university campuses, the student journalists dug into stories that revealed the human side of China–Hungary relations. In Budapest, they met Yu Jing, president of the Federation of Chinese Women in Hungary, who recounted her entrepreneurial journey. “The growing national strength of China and the deepening China–Hungary relations have provided strong support for overseas Chinese businesses,” she told them.

At Eötvös Loránd University, the team sat down with Associate Professor Ye Qiuyue, deputy director of the Belt and Road Research Center, who shared how Chinese language education in Hungary is evolving. “We need talents who not only speak the language, but understand the culture behind it,” she said, introducing a new “Chinese + Vocational Skills” approach to learning.

In Szeged, a roundtable at the Confucius Institute turned into a warm exchange between teachers and students. SISU President Li Yansong, joining the discussion, highlighted the value of collaboration:

“The University of Szeged is one of SISU’s closest partners. I hope our students take this opportunity to deepen their understanding of Hungary’s culture—and become bridges of friendship between our two peoples.”

The journey also took the team to the China Cultural Center in Budapest, where Director Jin Hao spoke on the power of cultural dialogue:

“The University of Szeged is one of SISU’s most valued partners. We will continue to deepen educational cooperation and expand academic exchange platforms. I hope our students cherish their time in Hungary, gain a deeper understanding of its culture, and contribute to the friendship between China and Hungary.”

By the end of their travels, SISU’s backpack journalists had gathered more than stories—they had gained insight. Each encounter deepened their awareness of how culture, communication, and connection shape today’s global narrative.

Armed with their multilingual skills and open minds, they returned home not just as students, but as storytellers ready to bring China’s voice to the world.