Orbán’s political director: Chinese president’s visit confirmation of Hungary’s connectivity strategy

The Chinese president’s upcoming visit to Hungary – and the fact that France was the only other European Union country on his itinerary – is confirmation of the effectiveness of Hungary’s connectivity strategy, the prime minister’s political director has said.

Chinese President’s visit to Hungary

Xi Jinping. Photo: depositphotos.com

Balázs Orbán told public radio ahead of Wednesday’s presidential visit that it would also help Hungary become a key state in the region.

In the interview broadcast late on Tuesday he noted that the last time a Chinese president visited Hungary was 20 years ago, and since that time China had become a superpower and one of the strongest economic powers holding a leading position in various technological sectors.

Hungary’s aim is to increase the presence of developed, high value-added technologies in the Hungarian economy, such as IT, telecommunications, electromobility, e-vehicle manufacturing and fast railways, Orbán said.

He said the aim was to create a hub for Eastern and Western technologies, as this would generate jobs, wages and economic growth. The Hungarian economy, being an export-oriented economy, also aims to find an increasingly comprehensive market for Hungarian products in China, he added.

Orbán said it was hoped that Hungary would become a hub for e-vehicle manufacturing in Europe.

Commenting on the Russia-Ukraine war, he said the Hungarian government’s position remained that immediate ceasefire and peace talks were needed. Statements by the French president indicated an increasing danger of a direct military conflict between Russia and NATO, he said. At the same time, the majority of countries beyond the Western world were making similar statements to Hungary concerning the the need for peace, he added.

Orbán said that Hungary’s primary interest was that battlefield activities should cease immediately and talks should be held on the peace process with the involvement of China.

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