The Hungarian embassy in Beijing on Sunday hosted 50 children from earthquake-hit Sichuan Province before they leave for a recuperative trip to Hungary from Aug. 4 to 25.

The children will stay at Lake Balaton, in the southwest of the country, before going to the capital, Budapest, where they will visit cultural sites and meet children from Hungarian-Chinese bilingual schools.

They will also take part in celebrations commemorating the 1008th anniversary of the founding of the Hungarian state and meet state leaders.

"I hope the children can be relaxed and comfortable after the recuperation, and have more understanding of Hungary," said Hungarian Ambassador to China Sandor Kusai.

More than 40 other Chinese children will recuperate in Bulgaria at the same time. Russia has offered similar programs.

The May 12 earthquake that devastated Sichuan and neighboring Gansu and Shaanxi provinces has left nearly 70,000 dead and another 18,000 missing.

(Xinhua News Agency August 4, 2008)