The meeting with the Chinese Foreign Minister is all the more important for the Hungarian government because Chinese investments could make a decisive contribution to Hungary’s economic success over the next two to three years, Viktor Orbán emphasized in a video statement posted on Facebook after receiving Wang Yi, the head of Chinese diplomacy, in Budapest on Wednesday.
PM Viktor Orbán emphasized that the Chinese Foreign Minister rarely visits Europe, especially on a tour, so they need to discuss strategic issues and review specific bilateral matters.
There are investments underway, seven or eight significant investments being carried out by Chinese companies. In recent years, more than 30 percent of investments from China have come to Hungary, and a significant portion of Chinese working capital within the European Union is in Hungary, especially in modern industries,”
he recalled.
“There are factories that we have already built and will soon begin operating. But there are six or seven that are still in progress and need to be continuously supported and strengthened,” said Viktor Orbán.
After receiving his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó stated that a new world order is emerging in which China plays an extremely important role, and this enhances the comprehensive, all-encompassing strategic partnership between the two countries.
Hungary has benefited greatly from its cooperation with China. 2025 was the third consecutive year in which China was the largest source of investment in Hungary. These investments have contributed and still contribute to the modernization and strengthening of the Hungarian economy at a time when the world is lurching from crisis to crisis,”
he emphasized.
“Last year, Hungary was once again the number one investment destination for Chinese companies. The good news is that BYD and CATL will also start production this year, contributing to Hungary’s position as a European leader in the new electric car industry,” he continued.
He then pointed out that China is also contributing to the development of regional connections in Central Europe, as demonstrated by the launch of freight traffic on the Budapest-Belgrade railway line on February 27, followed by passenger transport on March 14.
In this regard, he recalled that express trains will run between the Hungarian and Serbian capitals every two hours at a speed of 160 kilometers per hour, connecting Belgrade with Vienna via Budapest twice a day.
He also emphasized that an agreement had been reached to increase the number of flights connecting Budapest with major Chinese cities from the current 42 per week to 77: 35 passenger flights and 42 cargo flights.
Péter Szijjártó then announced that he and Wang Yi had reviewed the security situation in Europe and the world, and in this regard, he stated that Hungary is proud to be a member of the Friends of Peace group in the UN together with China.
“We are grateful to the Chinese government for its peace efforts, and we are grateful that the Chinese government stands for peace in Ukraine,” he said.
“I informed the minister that, unfortunately, Europeans are constantly undermining peace efforts. and that a five-point Zelenskyy plan has recently been made public, that shows an obvious coalition between Brussels and Kyiv, according to which Europe wants to continue supplying weapons to Ukraine, continue sending money to Ukraine, and continue to bring Ukraine into the European Union,” he said.
I informed the minister that Hungary’s sovereign national government opposes all of this, that we Hungarians stand for peace, and that both the continuation of the war and Ukraine’s membership in the European Union are sharply contrary to our interests,”
he added.
Finally, the minister welcomed the continuity of the U.S.-China dialogue and emphasized that the stability of relations between the two countries is of paramount importance to Hungary from both a security and economic perspective, as they are our country’s two main investment, economic, and trade partners outside Europe.
“Once again, I would like to thank the minister for his distinguished friendship. Thank you for choosing Hungary as your destination in Europe for the first time this year,” he concluded.
Via MTI; Featured photo: MTI/Prime Minister’s Office Communications Department/Ákos Kaiser
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