“Hungarian-Chinese cooperation is expanding dynamically in all fields”, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó announced in a statement to public media on Friday in Sofia.

The Minister reported on the talks between the Hungarian delegation headed by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, and on his meeting with President of Bank of China Siqing Chen. The bilateral meetings were held on the sidelines of China-CEEC summit being held in the Bulgarian capital.

The figures for trade between Hungary and China already broke all previous records last year, the Minister highlighted.

Mr. Szijjártó said the flagship of cooperation between the two countries, and between Central Europe and China, is the Budapest-Belgrade high speed railway line, with relation to which he said the project was “on track”.

“In addition, Hungary is doing everything possible to ensure that cooperation between China and the 16 countries of Central and Eastern Europe continues to expand dynamically. In this spirit, this autumn Budapest will be hosting a meeting of the heads of the central banks of the countries participating in China-CEEC cooperation, in addition to which it has also been decided that the headquarters for development bank cooperation between the 16+1 formation will also be established in Budapest”, the Minister told the press.

“Furthermore, in view of the fact that Hungary and China will be celebrating the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations next year, an agreement has been concluded concerning a 5-7 point long-term action plan aimed at raising relations to a new dimension. The development of this plan has been entrusted to the Economic Joint Committee”, Mr. Szijjártó announced.

The Minister explained that the action plan would include issues relating to economic cooperation, infrastructure development projects and education cooperation in the interests of further improving the competitiveness of Hungary, and via that of the Central European region, and to further tighten relations with China.

On Friday afternoon, Mr. Szijjártó will also be holding talks with the Bulgarian and Serbian energy ministers.

(Cabinet Office of the Prime Minister/MTI)