Chinese foreign minister in Budapest: Belgrade-Budapest high-speed rail launch, major investments, Ukraine peace talks on agenda

Hungary “profits greatly” from its cooperation with China, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó said in Budapest on Wednesday, after meeting with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi.

BYD, CATL to start production soon

Szijjártó acknowledged China’s “extraordinarily important role” in the new world order taking shape and said the all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership between Hungary and China was appreciating in value. He noted that China had been the biggest foreign investor in Hungary in 2025, for the third year, and said those investments had helped modernise and strengthen the local economy.

He said EV maker BYD and battery manufacturer CATL would soon start production at local bases, putting Hungary “at the forefront” of the new electromobility industry in Europe.

High-speed Belgrade-Budapest passenger trains to operate from March

He said freight trains would start running on the Budapest-Belgrade rail line – part of a corridor for Chinese goods bound for Europe that is backed by China – on February 27 and the first passenger trains, travelling up to 160km/h, would use the stretch from March 14.

Szijjártó said an agreement had been reached that would boost the number of direct flights between Budapest and big cities in China from 42 to 77 a week, including 35 passenger and 42 cargo flights.

China and Hungary for peace

Szijjártó said the sides had discussed the security situation in Europe and the world, adding that Hungary was proud to be a member together with China of the Friends of Peace group at the United Nations. He said Hungary was grateful for the Chinese government’s peace efforts and for its stand for peace in Ukraine.

Szijjártó said he had informed Wang of a five-point “Zelensky Plan” that had come to light recently showing a coalition between Brussels and Kyiv involving the further delivery of weapons and money to Ukraine, as well as the country’s accession to the European Union. “Unfortunately, the Europeans are constantly undermining efforts for peace,” he said.

Hungary welcomes dialogue between USA, China

“I told the minister that Hungary’s sovereign national government opposes all of this. We Hungarians stand on the side of peace, and a continuation of the war runs counter to our interests, as does Ukraine’s EU membership,” he added.

Szijjártó welcomed the continuing dialogue between the United States and China and said the stability of ties between the two countries was of great importance for Hungary from both a security and economic perspective.

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