Pacts with Chinese president to have positive impact on Hungary, says foreign minister Szijjártó

Agreements concluded with the Chinese president during his visit to Budapest will have a positive impact on Hungary’s development in the long term, the minister of foreign affairs and trade Péter Szijjártó said on Sunday.

The three-day visit Xi Jinping paid to Hungary leading a 400-member delegation is of historic importance from four aspects, Péter Szijjártó told public broadcaster Kossuth Radio.

Szijjártó: China is ahead of Western economies

The last time a Chinese president visited Hungary was 20 years ago and the two countries celebrate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations this year, he said. China is “way ahead” of the Western economies in terms of the most basic trends in global economy, and the leader of the strongest country in the pro-peace camp of countries that form a global majority” paid a visit to Hungary at a time of war, Szijjártó said.

With the visit, relations between the two countries have been elevated to a level of strategic partnership cooperation, a category in which the Chinese include only five countries, Hungary being the only one from Europe, said Szijjártó.

The minister highlighted the decision by Chinese electric car manufacturer BYD and another three electric battery manufacturers to build plants in Hungary.