“Cooperation between the countries of the region and China is important, as is the fact that we must communicate this in a manner that everyone can understand”, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Parliamentary State Secretary stressed at a press conference following a meeting with his Chinese counterpart within the framework of China-CEEC cooperation.

Levente Magyar highlighted the fact that this important and forward-looking cooperation has attracted major interest worldwide, also stressing that “our region regards China as a friend”, and Hungary wishes to remain a frontrunner in the development of relations in future.

Speaking to reporters, the State Secretary emphasised that Hungary is “one of the initiators and strongest proponents” of cooperation between the region and China, in which sixteen Central and Eastern European countries are involved, and the cooperation that began in Budapest a few years ago is being embodied in concrete projects such as the Budapest-Belgrade railway line.

The cooperation relies very closely on China’s geopolitically and geo-strategically significant “One Belt, One Road” initiative, which is aimed at developing the “silk road” between the world’s two most highly developed economies, China and Europe.

“Hungary sees a historic opportunity in placing itself onto this map”, Mr. Magyar said, referring to the fact that Hungary used to play an important role in this trade route.

The State Secretary said it was important to “communicate extremely clearly and extremely unequivocally” to all of our domestic and foreign partners that this is a “forward-looking cooperation that is advantageous to everyone, and not a cooperation that is discriminative or that shuts anybody out”.

He added that for the most part it is our western allies that need to be reassured that “nothing is happening here that is at odds with European values, and in fact we are building on European values and Hungarian values and would like to see as many partners as possible involved in this cooperation framework”.

At the press conference, Vice Minister Guo Weimin from China’s State Council Information Office (SCIO) stressed that China began opening up forty years ago, and the latest wave of this process was decided upon last autumn by the National Congress of the Communist Party of China, which set as its goal peaceful development, harmonious cooperation and the construction of a joint future.

China’s opening towards the West has had a great affect both on his homeland and the world in general, he explained, stressing that during the development of China into a “modernised socialist state” the country’s leadership is placing emphasis on developing the economy and society in the upcoming period, and adding that China is progressing successfully towards the realisation of its goals.

The Vice Minister also spoke about the fact that the changes that have come about thanks to the internet and the need to conform to requirements from the public, during the course of which social consensus must also be established, pose new challenges to government communication.

Mr. Guo Weimin said cooperation between the government spokespersons was a good basis for cooperation, adding that it can and should be developed further in the interests of the friendly relations that are in the interests of both parties.

(MTI)