Hungary: The China Connection | European Journal

More than 10,000 Chinese live in Hungary - more than in any other country in central Europe. Though xenophobia is a reality there, the Chinese community has been largely tolerated.The Hungarian government sees ties with the Chinese as a way to help revive the country's weak financial situation. Beijing hopes to make Budapest an economic bridge to Europe - and the Chinese community there has been largely left alone. But the group has not completely integrated; they have their own newspapers and television channel. A large and modern Asian shopping center caters to members of the community - and a bilingual school has also been opened in Budapest.