Speaker Kövér: Hungary, China have similar views of the “present and future of the world” – UPDATED

Speaker of Parliament László Kövér met Wang Huning, the chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) in Beijing on Wednesday, the parliament’s press chief said.

Kövér and Wang discussed bilateral ties as well as international affairs, Zoltán Szilágyi said.

Kövér said the two countries had similar views of the “present and future of the world, and our relations are characterised by mutual respect and by not interfering with each other’s affairs.”

Hungary is striving to build a pragmatic relationship with the People’s Republic of China, and “does not wish to mix ideology with economic cooperation.” It is working to strengthen connectivity in the world, and “we picture our country as a meeting point of eastern and western capital in the future”, he said. “We do not support policies raising the spectre of an economic war and restricting cooperation between the EU and China.”

Hungary will remain a home for Chinese investments

“We aim to continue to offer a home for Chinese investments in Hungary, to further strengthen trade, and to increase Hungarian exports into China,” Kövér said.

Challenges such as climate change, the effect of pollution and mass illegal migration, which are hitting both countries “in a volatile and dangerous international situation”, can only be solved through joint effort, he said.

Wang said ties between the two countries had never been stronger, “and China greatly appreciates Hungary’s efforts to solve international conflicts too.” He praised the “multilayered cultural ties” between Hungary and China, adding that Hungary was home to 5 Confucius Institutes and a bilingual Hungarian-Chinese elementary and secondary school.

Hungary’s parliamentary delegation attended a gala marking the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the countries at the Chinese National Opera House, organised by Hungary’s embassy to Beijing.

Kövér: dynamic development in Hungarian-Chinese ties

Speaker of Parliament László Kövér left Beijing and paid a visit to Chongqing, parliament’s press office reported on Friday.

During his stay, Kövér met leaders of the 30-million city and visited the Hungarian-Chinese Technology Transfer Center, one of Hungary and China’s key Belt and Road projects. At the center, Kover was briefed on the Hungarian-Chinese Food Science Research Centre, co-founded by Hungary’s University of Agriculture and Life Sciences and Southwest University.

The Hungarian delegation was also presented the plans for a research laboratory implemented in cooperation between Sanxia Hospital of Chongqing University and Nobel Prize winning physicist Ferenc Krausz, aimed at facilitiating application of the latest physical research in medicine. Kövér said cooperation with Chongqing was “a tangible example of the dynamic development in Hungarian-Chinese ties in the past ten years”, adding that the two countries were partners “despite distance, cultural differences, different political structures and different magnitudes”. He also added that Hungary could provide China with the advantages of innovation, technology, and shared experience. Later in the day, Kövér laid a wreath at a memorial to 19th century Hungarian poet Sandor Petofi and his wife in Chongqing’s Elin Park.

UPDATE: Hungarian-Chinese Investor Roundtable holds inaugural meeting

Brussels must rethink pro-war strategy in wake of Trump victory, says Fidesz

Brussels must rethink its pro-war strategy in the wake of the victory of Donald Trump at the US presidential election, András László, an MEP of ruling Fidesz said on Wednesday.

László said “Trump’s victory came as a shock” for Brussels, adding that the EU had “expected an extended period of support for Ukraine, with US help, but if Trump keeps his promise and tries to quickly end the war in Ukraine, it means that the pro-war strategy must be re-thought in Brussels.”

He added that “in that case practically everything will have to be handled from the EU budget and defence industry, which will create an entirely new situation”.

Meanwhile, László said that Trump had also urged NATO member states to spend 2 percent of their GDP on defence spending, in line with NATO directives, during his first term. Trump warned the member states not to rely on the alliance “just because its article 5 ensures protection from the US in the case of an attack,” László added.

Trump had expected the member states already at that time to shoulder their share in NATO activities, he said.

László added that Hungary had announced large military and defence investments years ago in order to carry out the modernisation of the army which is still under way.

Featured image: László Kövér in the Hungarian Parliament

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