2024-05-12 04:31:16
BEIJING, Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — China and Hungary decided on Thursday to upgrade their bilateral ties into a “comprehensive all-weather strategic partnership for the new era.”
The decision was announced during talks between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
The two heads of state reiterated that this decision has set the course for the future development of Sino-Hungarian relations and that it will give new and strong impetus to bilateral cooperation and create a better future for both peoples.
Pointing out that this year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Hungary, Xi called on the two countries to continue to be good friends with mutual trust and good partners for mutually beneficial cooperation.
Comprehensive all-weather strategic partnership for a new era
Before his visit to Hungary, Xi had an article signed by him published in the Hungarian newspaper Magyar Nemzet, in which he said bilateral relations were better than ever in history and were on a golden path.
According to the China-Hungary Investment and Cooperation Report, the bilateral trade volume reached 14.52 billion US dollars in 2023, an increase of 73 percent compared to 2013. Chinese direct investment in Hungary reached 7.6 billion euros in 2023, which was 58 % of total foreign direct investment in Hungary.
Hungary is the first European country to sign a document on cooperation with China on the Belt and Road Initiative. In recent years, the Belt and Road Initiative has become more closely integrated with Hungary’s Eastern Opening Strategy and strengthened bilateral practical cooperation in trade, investment, finance and other areas.
In December last year, Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD announced it would build its first European new energy passenger car factory in Hungary. Hungarian Foreign and Trade Minister Peter Szijjarto described this as “one of the most significant investments in Hungarian economic history.”
Chinese modernization will certainly provide more opportunities for Hungary and other countries in the world, Xi told Orban, adding that Hungary is welcome as China’s companion on its path to Chinese modernization.
At a meeting with Hungarian President Tamas Sulyok on Thursday, Xi said China is ready to work with Hungary to promote greater synergies between Chinese modernization and Hungary’s strategy of opening up to the East, cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative, and cooperation between To continuously steer China and the Central and Eastern European countries in the right direction and to deepen and consolidate bilateral cooperation.
Consolidating Chinese-Hungarian friendship
People-to-people contacts are an inexhaustible source of strength for Sino-Hungarian relations, Xi stressed in the signed article, adding that the more exchanges between the two peoples, the stronger the friendship.
Ahead of the 2023 Spring Festival, two students from the Hungarian-Chinese Bilingual School in Budapest wrote a letter to Xi and his wife, Professor Peng Liyuan, conveying their New Year greetings and expressing their willingness to study at Chinese universities.
In his response, Xi encouraged Hungarian youth to learn more regarding China and become ambassadors of Sino-Hungarian friendship.
Many Chinese universities have Hungarian courses on the curriculum. The Confucius Institutes and Confucius Classrooms, where students can learn Chinese, are enjoying increasing popularity and participation in Hungary.
Exchanges and mutual visits at the subnational level are also increasing. Direct passenger flights are reaching double-digit numbers per week and measures to facilitate travel in both directions have already produced significant results.
Xi called on both sides to further support education in their respective languages and promote communication and exchanges between the people and institutions of the two countries.
Orban stressed that China’s development represents an opportunity and not a risk for Europe, and told Xi that the Hungarian side rejects the rhetoric of so-called “overcapacity” or “de-risking.”
“Hungary’s determination to deepen cooperation with China is unshakable and will not be disturbed,” he said.
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Jiang Simin,
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