BUDAPEST, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- Hungary and China on Wednesday jointly issued a commemorative stamp series titled "National Treasures: Traditional Hungarian and Chinese Instruments" for the upcoming Chinese New Year.

Co-issued by the Chinese Embassy in Hungary, the Ministry for National Economy of Hungary, the China Cultural Center in Budapest, and the Hungarian Post Office, the sheet features four stamps, depicting China's guzheng and Hungary's zither, with pastel backgrounds and portraits of musicians. Bilingual inscriptions highlight the cross-cultural theme.

Designed by Hungarian graphic designer Barnabas Baticz, 20,000 sheets were issued. The launch ceremony at the China Cultural Center in Budapest included a joint guzheng-zither performance of Hungarian traditional music "Csardas."

Chinese Ambassador to Hungary Gong Tao said the stamps reflect growing cultural cooperation and mutual appreciation between China and Hungary, help preserve heritage and promote dialogue between civilizations.

Aniko Turi, secretary of state at the Ministry for National Economy, said the stamps demonstrate the shared appreciation for traditional instruments and the importance both peoples attach to cultural heritage.

The Hungarian Post has been issuing Chinese Zodiac stamps since 2014, completing a full 12-year cycle in 2025. The newly released "Traditional Hungarian and Chinese Instruments" stamp is the first in this new "National Treasures" series.