On Sept 22, Oláh Lajos, deputy speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly and vice chairman of the Hungary-China Friendship Group of Parliamentarians, led a delegation to Guangzhou, capital city of Guangdong province, exploring opportunities to deepen economic and cultural cooperation.

The delegation visited the Wanglaoji Herbal Tea Museum and experienced traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) therapies firsthand. Lajos humorously said after a tuina massage session, ''It was a bit painful, but very professional and effective.''

Lajos experiences the tuina massage at the Wanglaoji Herbal Tea Museum. [Photo/WeChat account: GZWS411665430]

During the symposium, Yang Yong, director of the Guangzhou foreign affairs office, emphasized Guangzhou's role as a key international trade and logistics center. He also expressed his hope for expanded collaboration in healthcare and TCM to foster mutual development.

Lajos acknowledged the growing popularity of TCM in Hungary and pointed to the country's wellness resources — such as longevity clinics and thermal spas — as a strong base for partnership. He invited Guangzhou enterprises to invest in Hungary to jointly develop the Central European health market.

Lajos highlighted that, as 2025 approaches the 76th anniversary of Sino-Hungarian diplomatic ties, maintaining strong people-to-people exchanges remains vital. He appreciated the direct flights connecting Hungary with Guangzhou and Shenzhen and expressed gratitude to Guangdong and Guangzhou for their support of the Hungarian-Chinese Bilingual School.

Representatives from Guangzhou Pharmaceutical Holdings Limited showed interest in expanding into the Hungarian market, including localized production of Wanglaoji herbal tea.

Both sides agreed to set up a long-term communication system to boost cooperation in health and wellness, taking Guangzhou-Hungary relations to a new level.