China’s state broadcaster CCTV reported that Xi Jinping “arrived in Budapest on a special plane and began a state visit at the invitation of Hungarian President Tamas Suliok and Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.” Xi Jinping’s three-day visit to Hungary was organized to commemorate the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. On Wednesday evening, Prime Minister V. Orban hosted a state dinner for a guest.
Xi Jinping began his trip to Europe in France, the visit was cordial, but highlighted the tension between Beijing and the European Union (EU) over the war in Ukraine and global trade. Earlier on Wednesday, the Chinese leader ended his visit to Serbia, which, like Hungary, maintains close ties with Russia and China.
Hungary is the only EU member participating in China’s Belt and Road Infrastructure and Investment Initiative. Orban maintains friendly relations with Beijing to create a counterbalance to himself in the European Union, where he is often isolated. V. Orban, who often disagrees with Brussels, in 2010 after returning to power, he advocates a foreign policy of “opening up to the East” and seeks closer economic ties with China, Russia and other Asian countries.
China is building an approximately 350-kilometer rail link between Budapest and Belgrade, the capitals of Hungary and Serbia. China is also building large factories in Hungary for the production of electric cars and related batteries.
Before arriving in Budapest, in the pro-Hungarian daily Magyar Nemzet, Xi Jinping praised the “long-term friendship” with Hungary, which he said was “smooth and rich like Tokaj wine,” referring to Hungary’s famous wine region. “Together we survived hardships and together we defied power politics in an unstable international situation,” he wrote. – Our bilateral relations are the best in history, we are embarking on a golden journey (…) In the new journey to a new era, China hopes for close cooperation with our Hungarian friends”.
According to the Hungarian government, the two countries are expected to sign at least 16 agreements to boost cooperation in rail and road infrastructure, nuclear energy and the automotive industry.
According to experts, in Hungary, Xi Jinping will be able to “avoid difficult conversations and uncomfortable questions”, and with such investments, which will receive 9.6 million. a country with a population that “would be welcomed even in Western Europe”. Hungary guarantees Xi Jinping a diplomatic victory, showing his warm relations with an EU member open to Chinese investment. So, according to experts, Xi Jinping’s message to Europe is how China would like Europe to treat it.
The Chinese leader is expected to leave Hungary on Friday afternoon.
