Flights to double between Hungary and China

Hungary and China have concluded a new agreement on air transport, which could double the number of flights between the two countries to 42 a week, Péter Szijjártó, the minister of foreign affairs and trade, said in Ningbo, in eastern China, on Tuesday.

Szijjártó, who is visiting the China-Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC) Expo, welcomed the agreement, noting that it will boost both passenger and cargo traffic.

“As economic and trade cooperation between Hungary and China reach record highs, we need to speed up the transport of goods. Hungary is already the entry point of Chinese goods” into Europe, he said.

The number of cargo flights will grow substantially as a result of the agreement. Also, Chinese authorities will allow airlines to establish flights, including direct ones, between Budapest and two cities, in addition to the four already in the network, he said.

The new destinations will be discussed during the expo, he said.

The talks also touched on the development of the Budapest-Belgrade railway line, and the importance of keeping to the 2025 deadline. The investment will contribute to Chinese goods being transported from Greek ports to western and northern Europe through Hungary, he said.