Chinese ambassador in Budapest: China ready to cooperate further with Hungary

China is ready to cooperate further with Hungary in the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative and the Hungarian government’s Eastern Opening policy, Gong Tao, the Chinese ambassador to Hungary, said at a conference in Budapest on Friday.

75th anniversary of Hungary-China diplomatic relations marked

The ambassador said China wanted to enhance its cooperation with Hungary and launch projects in areas such as artificial intelligence and the green transition, addressing the event organised to mark the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Hungary.

Gong Tao said both sides had insisted on honesty, friendship and a “win-win style” cooperation, and that had established the foundation for their relations. Although China and Hungary are far apart from each other geographically, they have always respected and supported the development path that each has chosen, while taking into account each other’s fundamental interests as well as main concerns, he added.

Xi Jinping. Photo: depositphotos.com

He underscored that the Hungarian government had stood by the One China principle and opposed any separatist behaviour that would undermine China’s national unity. He said that China also respected the domestic and foreign policy that Hungary had chosen, suited to its own needs, and supported the country’s efforts to maintain national stability and advance economic development.

Chinese ambassador: China is the biggest foreign investor in Hungary

He said the two countries would continue to deepen their cooperation in trade, investment and infrastructure, as well as participate together in building up the Belt and Road Initiative. He noted that China had been the biggest foreign investor in Hungary in 2023, and that Chinese investments in the country had created more than 10,000 jobs and given the economy a big boost.

With bilateral trade reaching more than USD 13bn, China is Hungary’s biggest trading partner outside of the European Union, he said. Cargo flights and investments have made Hungary a logistics hub between China and Europe, he added.

Gong Tao said connections between Chinese and Hungarian people also provided a strong foundation for bilateral ties, adding that Hungarian was a subject at twelve universities in China, while Hungary was home to six Confucius Institutes and one dual Chinese-Hungarian school.

He said a visit to Hungary by Chinese President Xi Jinping in May had marked the start of a new era in bilateral ties and elevated Hungary and China’s broad strategic partnership to the next level. That new partnership further strengthens the harmonisation of development strategies, enhances pragmatic cooperation and intensifies cultural and people-to people exchanges, he added.

Committed to world peace and justice

Gong Tao acknowledged headwinds faced by globalisation amid strengthening protectionism in the global economy and said those challenges could be met with closed confrontation or open cooperation, which proved a test for the wisdom of politicians. He added that Prime Minister Viktor Orban had voiced his opposition to confrontation that leads to the severing of ties and said Hungary aimed to become a business and technology meeting point for the East and the West.

He said Hungary was a communication bridge between the Eastern and Western civilisations. China wants Hungary to continue to take advantage of opportunities to cooperate in the areas of education, culture, tourism, sport and the media, he added.

He said China and Hungary were both committed to world peace and to justice, and were opposed to intervention in the internal affairs of other countries as well as unilateral sanctions.

János Latorcai, the deputy speaker of the Hungarian parliament, said President Xi’s visit in May had opened a new chapter in bilateral ties. He added that the Hungarian government’s Eastern Opening policy, announced in 2010, had produced countless benefits.

Latorcai said Hungary remained committed to being a bridge between East and West, even in today’s era of blocs.

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