Thousands take to the streets in Hungary to protest against plans to open a Chinese university campus

KATHMANDU: Thousands of people have taken to the streets in protest of the opening of a Chinese university campus in the Hungarian capital, Budapest. 

Protesters marched on the parliament building in Budapest on Saturday, protesting against plans to build a campus on China's Fudan University. 

Opponents of the project say it would reduce the country's level of higher education and increase the influence of China's communist regime.   

The right-wing government of Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban has close ties with Beijing. 

Earlier this month, Hungary blocked an EU statement criticizing China's treatment of Hong Kong.   

The construction of the Fudan University campus in Budapest is estimated to cost about 1.8 billion dollars.   

That's far more than the Urban government spent on its entire higher education system in 2019. 

According to the Liberal Think Tank Republican Institute, about two-thirds of Hungarians oppose the Chinese university campus.   

Budapest Mayor Gergelli Karaksoni has also opposed the construction of the Fudan University campus. 

This week, he said China was naming the streets after victims of human rights abuses. The names of the four new roads include 'Free Hong Kong', 'Dalai Lama Street' and 'Wigger Martors Road'.  

China has denied any allegations of human rights abuses.   

Fudan University is one of the most prestigious educational institutions in China.