Elzo Molenberg (right), Deputy Head of Mission and Head of Political, Economic, Press and Cultural Department at the Netherlands Embassy, receives the letter of appeal from Chinese Li Zhen on April 13. Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn

Elzo Molenberg, Deputy Head of Mission and Head of Political, Economic, Press and Cultural Department at the Netherlands Embassy in Budapest, received the English letter of appeal from Chinese delegates.

Molenberg said the Embassy fully understands the importance of the statue to the Chinese people, and that hopefully the matter can be resolved in a way that's satisfactory to all parties.

The letter of appeal was also presented to the Representative Office of the European Commission in Hungary.

"As we wrote, the Holy Right (the mummified right hand) and Holy Crown of King Stephen I of Hungary, that country's first king, carry feelings and hope of the 15 million Hungarian people. The statue preserving the whole body of Patriarch Zhanggong is also the most sacred relic to his country's people, and now the situation is affecting the heart of every one of the 1.5 billion Chinese people, no matter if they are in China or abroad. We believe we share the same feeling as when the Holy Right and Holy Crown were taken away from their homeland," the appeal read.

The Secretary-general of the Federation of Chinese Social Organizations in Hungary Li Zhen, who is also the overseas private coordinator and liaison responsible for the retrieval of Patriarch Zhanggong Statue on behalf of Yangchun Village, said villagers in Yangchun village gathered in Puzhao Temple, where the statue was originally worshiped, at the same time the peaceful protest was staged in Hungary in order to show support.

Firecrackers were lit, a traditional Chinese way to wish for good luck, to hope for the earliest return of the Patriarch Zhanggong to his home. Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn