Orbán urges central Europe – China strategic partnership – UPDATE

Budapest, October 6 (MTI) – The time has come for central Europe and China to elevate their relations to the level of strategic partnership, the Hungarian prime minister told a conference on Thursday.

Speaking at the event dubbed Dialogue between China and political parties in central and eastern Europe, Viktor Orbán said that such a partnership could be signed next year.

In his address, the prime minister argued that central Europe and China were mutually interested in the success of the other partner. He said that “mankind cannot be successful unless its largest country is successful” and added that central Europe was a “great hope for the future” as “the most dynamically developing region” in Europe.

Hungary is committed to such a partnership as well as to rebuilding the Silk Road, Orbán said.

UPDATE

The link between central Europe and China combined with business cooperation will ensure the flow of goods, and the Budapest-Belgrade railway link is being built accordingly, he said.

Hungary will not accept “any restriction” on cooperation between China and central Europe, Orbán said. “What is good for China and central Europe will serve the interests of the whole of the European Union.”

Concerning inter-party relations, Orbán said, “We need to see eye to eye without asking the other side to change themselves”. This approach is different from “the traditional western” one whereby “the West represents a superior ideal and expects other parts of the world to adopt international doctrines reflecting that.”

“Hungary does not support exporting political or economic systems,” Orbán said.

Hungary respects the political systems of other countries that express their national character, Orban said, adding that “China’s political system is up to the Chinese, while Hungary’s is up to Hungarians.” “Nobody has the right to interfere as a self-appointed judge,” he said.

Concerning Hungary-China ties, Orbán said bilateral trade turnover had grown 2.7 times last year, whereas the first seven months of 2016 had seen an 80 percent increase.

The prime minister also noted that Hungary had submitted its membership request to the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.

Hungary is ready to host a central Europe-China summit in the second half of 2017, Orbán said.

Senior Communist Party of China (CPC) official Liu Yunshan noted the CPC and the Chinese government’s appreciation for central Europe cooperation. Mutual respect and political confidence have been instrumental in building these ties, he added.