On August 29, the launch of the Report on China-Europe Services and Digital Trade Development and China-Central and Eastern Europe Civilizations Forum 2026, co-organized by Renmin University of China and Eötvös Loránd University of Hungary, was held in Budapest. Gong Tao, Chinese Ambassador to Hungary; Zhang Donggang, Party Secretary  of Renmin University of China; Lénárd Darázs, Rector of Eötvös Loránd University; and Academician Hamar Imre attended and addressed the event. More than 40 participants attended, including Yang Xiuhua, Counselor of the Embassy, experts and scholars from universities and research institutes in Hungary and several Central and Eastern European countries, and representatives of Chinese enterprises.

Ambassador Gong said that Hungary is an important partner of China in the Central and Eastern Europe. Not long ago, President Xi Jinping sent a message congratulating András Bóka on his assumption of the Hungarian presidency, guiding the progress of China-Hungary all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership in the new era on a steady and long-term basis. The event brought together experts and scholars from universities and research institutions in China, Hungary and a number of Central and Eastern European countries, setting up a platform for cross-border academic dialogue. He expected that more valuable research outcomes would be produced as part of think-tank contribution to the practical cooperation between China and Hungary and between China and Central and Eastern Europe as a whole.

Secretary Zhang Donggang said that Renmin University is willing to expand cooperation with Eötvös Loránd University and other universities in Central and Eastern European countries, strengthen mutual learning among civilizations, and advance the in-depth development of China-Europe civilizational exchanges and trade cooperation. Rector Lénárd Darázs said that the essence of mutual learning among civilizations lies in respecting differences, and expressed readiness to deepen cooperation with Renmin University and research institutions, build an academic bridge between China and Hungary, and jointly address global challenges. Academician Hamar Imre introduced the fruitful results achieved in bilateral cooperation. At the conference, experts and scholars from Renmin University and European universities and research institutes released the report and held in-depth discussions.