Qin Gang Meets with Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó
2023/05/15

On May 15, 2023, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang met in Beijing with Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó who is in China for the China-Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC) Expo.

Qin Gang said that China and Hungary are good friends and good partners that have stood up to tests. In recent years, under the joint guidance of President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, bilateral relations have entered the best period in history. China will continue to plan for the development of bilateral relations from a strategic and long-term perspective, and stands ready to work with Hungary to maintain high-level exchanges, deepen strategic mutual trust, expand friendly and mutually beneficial cooperation, increase people-to-people and cultural exchanges, firmly support each other’s core interests & major concerns, and jointly cope with various risks and challenges.

Qin Gang said that the third China-CEEC Expo will be held in Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, with Hungary being the sole guest country of honor. The fact that Minister Szijjártó leads a delegation to attend the opening ceremony of the Expo fully demonstrates Hungary's support for China-CEEC cooperation and the importance it attaches to bilateral relations.

Qin Gang expressed the hope that the European Union (EU) could establish an objective and correct understanding of China, and continue to pursue a positive and pragmatic China policy.

Péter Szijjártó said that in recent years, Hungary-China relations have continuously deepened and strengthened in all aspects. Hungary regards China as a strategic cooperative partner and an important development opportunity, welcomes Chinese investment, and opposes "decoupling and severing industrial and supply chains". Hungary is ready to deepen practical cooperation with China in various fields and firmly supports the continued development of CEEC-China cooperation and EU-China relations.

Both sides also had an in-depth exchange of views on the Ukraine issue.