BEIJING, March 17 (Xinhuanet) -- Hungarian Ambassador to China Meszaros Sandor awarded medals to 13 Chinese diplomats, writers and journalists here Thursday in recognition of their contributions to Sino-Hungarian relations.

    They have promoted the Hungary-China relations in their fields,said Meszaros.

    "I highly appreciate their work which I have paid close attention to, and I hope they will continue to work for the development of bilateral relations," the ambassador said.

    The ceremony was part of the activities co-sponsored by the Embassy of Hungary in Beijing and Lu Xun Museum of China to honor the Hungarian National Day on March 15.

    The activities also included laying a wreath to the statue of Petofi, a Hungarian poet and writer who died in fighting invading Russo-Austrian forces in 1849, and Chinese university students' recitation of Petofi's poems. Enditem