Minister for National Economy Mihály Varga received in his office Hong Kong Financial Secretary John Tsang Chun to exchange views on European and Asian economic trends as well as on potential opportunities provided by China’s “One Belt, One Road” strategy.
Commenting on the meeting, the Minister said that Hungary has in the past years paid special attention to the Asian region in general and to the broad-based bolstering of relations with China in particular. The 2013 opening of a Hungarian consulate in Hong Kong has played a major role in strengthening bilateral relations.
As Mihály Varga emphasised, more and more Hungarian enterprises are seeking business opportunities with Hong Kong and he expressed hope that the favourable macro-economic environment in Hungary – relatively high GDP growth, low inflation and a predictable, stable economic policy – is similarly motivating companies from Hong Kong. Hungary is offering excellent investment opportunities thanks to the country’s infrastructure, skilled labour force, favourable geographical situation and the increasing financial role.
Speaking of the special relationship which Hong Kong has been fostering with Hungary within the EU, the Minister’s Chinese counterpart welcomed the fact that Hungary has significantly improved infrastructure through – among others -- the launching of a direct Beijing-Budapest flight, the opening of a local Bank of China office, the building of wholesale centres and the establishing of a Chinese-Hungarian dual language school.
One major topic on the meeting’s agenda was Hungary’s membership application to the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, submitted in May 2015. As Mihály Varga pointed out, the Government is expecting that membership of the bank will improve Hungary’s international financial and foreign trade relations as well as booting the prospects of Hungarian enterprises on Asian markets.
(Ministry for National Economy)
