Facts confirm that never before had cooperation between Hungary and China been as good and efficient as now, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó said in Budapest on Saturday.

Following negotiations with Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi, Mr. Szijjártó pointed out at a press conference that the priority objective of the sovereign Hungarian foreign policy will remain turning Hungary into the starting point and a regional centre of China’s European economic expansion.

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Mr. Szijjártó emphasised that cooperation between China and Central Eastern Europe is extremely important, and Hungary wishes to remain the flagship of this process in the future as well. Particularly important in this aspect is the railway line between Budapest and Beograd, the reconstruction of which is proceeding according to schedule. The governments of China, Serbia and Hungary will soon discuss plans for the second half of the year in Budapest, he said. Mr. Szijjártó added that the Hungarian and Serbian feasibility studies had been prepared and completed with the opinion of the Chinese government; the unified feasibility study is to be prepared based on these by 30 June.

The Hungarian Minister explained that the success of Hungarian-Chinese cooperation is also proven by the fact that last year Hungarian exports to China have reached a new high at USD 2.2 billion as a result of an 8 per cent growth. The engine of Hungarian exports has been the food industry, the volume of which in respect of China increased seven-fold in the first three months of the year compared to the corresponding period of last year, and export licences for a number of food products are currently being negotiated with Chinese authorities, he said.

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The Minister also pointed out that the aggregate value of Chinese investments in Hungary has exceeded USD 3.5 billion, and a number of Chinese corporations operate their regional centres in Hungary.

The direct flight between Budapest and Beijing gave new momentum to the development of bilateral relations between the two countries, Mr. Szijjártó explained. Over 4,000 passengers have availed of its services since its launching on 1 May. Last year, Hungary received over 90,000 tourists from China, and the number of tourists has increased by 16 per cent over the first three months of the year.

He also announced that the Hungarian – Chinese economic joint committee will hold its meeting in Budapest in July.

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Prior to the press conference, the two ministers signed a memorandum of understanding on their governments’ efforts towards creating the Silk Road economic belt and the 21st century maritime Silk Road. (The project would link the Asian, European and African states along the former inland and maritime Silk Road across Eurasia and the ocean. The investments would be financed by the Silk Road Fund established by China, under which Beijing has already made funds transfers worth approximately USD 40 billion.)

Mr. Szijjártó declared that in the Hungarian Government’s view this was one of the key concepts in world trade; the significance and quality of the bilateral cooperation is also shown by the fact that China had first concluded an agreement with Hungary to implement this project, he added.

The Minister stated that Hungary supports cooperation as close and successful as possible between China and the European Union, to which close relations between China and Hungary may also contribute.

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Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi pointed out that Hungary and China had now reached the best period of their relationship so far, which was a result of the efforts made by the two countries. He spoke highly of the Hungarian Government’s Eastward Opening policy, concurrently indicating that his country is opening more to the West. As a result of the steady bilateral confidence, Hungary may act as a bridge in the course of building relations between China and the EU.

With respect to the signed agreement, the Chinese Minister explained that cooperation between Hungary and China may be intensified, opening up new opportunities in the bilateral relations. The agreement may serve as an example to other European countries, too, and China is encouraging countries to join the Silk Road concept because it is a right and reasonable decision.

Mr. Wang Yi also referred to the significance of the cultural relations between Hungary and China, as in his view they served as a firm basis for developing cooperation.

Wang Yi mentioned that he had met Prime Minister Viktor Orbán earlier on, and stressed that their discussion reinforced mutual trust between the two countries.

Press Chief of the Prime Minister’s Office Bertalan Havasi stated previously that the Viktor Orbán had spoken highly of the continuously expanding cooperation between Hungary and China at the meeting, where the parties agreed to carry on developing relations of China and Hungary. Mr. Orbán also expected specific long-term treaties to be concluded to that end.

(Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade)