Xi Jinping: We must raise Sino-Hungarian relations to a new level

The Chinese President said he appreciates PM Orbán’s visit to Beijing.

Peking, 2023. október 17. A Miniszterelnöki Sajtóiroda által közreadott képen Orbán Viktor miniszterelnököt (b) fogadja Hszi Csin-ping kínai elnök (j) Pekingben 2023. október 17-én. MTI/Miniszterelnöki Sajtóiroda/Fischer Zoltán Fotó: Miniszterelnöki Sajtóiroda/Fischer Zoltán

Chinese President Xi Jinping met Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban at the third international forum of the One Belt, One Road initiative in Beijing on Tuesday morning, where the Chinese President underlined that he would elevate the Sino-Hungarian partnership to a new level.

President Xi welcomed PM Orban and said he was very happy to meet his old friend in Beijing again, as they have not met during the Coronavirus outbreak and only discussed Sino-Hungarian relations and cooperation between the two countries by phone.

You have a long-standing commitment to relations with China, actively support the joint development of the One Belt, One Road cooperation and contribute positively to the high-quality development of the joint initiative,

– President Xi said, adding that he appreciates the Hungarian prime minister's attendance at the forum for the third time, which also marks the 10th anniversary of the initiative. - I would like to take this opportunity to work with you and the other participating leaders to share the vision of cooperation, draft the blueprint for development and promote greater enhancement of cooperation in building the One Belt, One Road in the next ten years," he stressed. 

President Xi underlined that Hungary was one of the first countries to recognize and establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China, so the friendship between the two countries has a long history.

In recent years, China-Hungary relations have always developed at a high level, regardless of changes in the international environment

– President Xi said. Reminding the participants that next year will be the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Hungary, the Chinese President emphasized that they should seize this opportunity to build on this momentum and raise comprehensive strategic cooperation between China and Hungary to a new level.

Cover photo: In this picture released by the Prime Minister's Press Office, Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán (left) is received by Chinese President Xi Jinping (right) in Beijing, on October 17, 2023. (Photo: MTI/Prime Minister's Press Office/Zoltan Fischer)