Photo:CFP

Chinese football fans watching the thrilling match between Portugal and Hungary last night also had their confidence boosted in indigenous vaccines, as the match took place in a fully packed stadium in Hungary, the first European country whose citizens were inoculated with Chinese vaccines. 

The Puskas Arena in Budapest is the only Euro 2020 tournament venue not to limit audience capacity as a COVID-19 health precaution. As a result, the game between Hungary and Portugal attracted wide attention from Chinese football fans. 

"We are happy that the match is a full house and that we are the only ones to do that at the Euro," a football fan told AFP outside the venue. 

"Now this is what a stadium for Euro Cup looks like. That's what a football match looks like!" said a thrilled Chinese netizen on Twitter-like platform Sina Weibo. 

Chinese football fans quickly recalled that Hungary is the first European country to inoculate its citizens with Chinese vaccines, and its usage rates are among the highest in the EU. "That's why Budapest was able to have a packed stadium!" cheered another fan. 

Hungary, a country of 10 million, has vaccinated 5.1 million people as of May 31, with more than 3.6 million having received two doses, the government said. The country also plans to produce Chinese Sinopharm's COVID-19 vaccine as well as a locally developed shot in a planned $193 million vaccine plant, Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto was quoted by Reuters as saying.