Balázs Orbán Discusses Hungary’s Connectivity Strategy Ahead of Xi Jinping Visit

Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife arrive at the Nikola Tesla Airport in Belgrade for an official visit to Serbia on 7 May 2024.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife arrive at the Nikola Tesla Airport in Belgrade for an official visit to Serbia on 7 May 2024.
Dimitrije Goll/Serbian President’s Office/ANADOLU via AFP
The political director of the Hungarian PM underscored in an interview with public media that the Chinese President’s visit also signifies that Hungary is becoming a key state in the region. He recalled that it has been twenty years since a Chinese president last visited Hungary, and during this time, China has become a superpower and one of the strongest countries economically, in leading positions in numerous technological industries.

The success of Hungary’s connectivity strategy is affirmed by the fact that the Chinese President will hold talks in the European Union not only in France but also in Hungary, the political director of the Prime Minister stated on Tuesday on public Kossuth radio, commenting on the visit of the Chinese President that commences today, Wednesday, 8 May.

Balázs Orbán added that the visit also signifies that Hungary is becoming a key state in the region. He recalled that it has been twenty years since a Chinese president last visited Hungary, and during this time, China has become a superpower and one of the strongest countries economically, in leading positions in numerous technological industries.

Balázs Orbán on Twitter: “The #Connectivity #Strategy is working: after 20 years, a #Chinese president is visiting #Hungary again! Xi Jinping’s visit validates the success of #Hungarian #diplomacy and the #Eastern #Opening policy.5 facts that prove the importance and success of 🇭🇺-🇨🇳 relations: pic.twitter.com/T1rxgdDwfx / Twitter”

The #Connectivity #Strategy is working: after 20 years, a #Chinese president is visiting #Hungary again! Xi Jinping’s visit validates the success of #Hungarian #diplomacy and the #Eastern #Opening policy.5 facts that prove the importance and success of 🇭🇺-🇨🇳 relations: pic.twitter.com/T1rxgdDwfx

He stated that Hungary’s goal is for advanced, high-value-added technology, including IT, telecommunications, electromobility, electric vehicle manufacturing, and the development of high-speed railways, to be present in the Hungarian economy.

The aim is for Eastern and Western technologies to converge in Hungary,

as this will create jobs, increase wages, and drive economic growth. He noted that as an export-oriented economy, Hungary also aims for an increasingly broad acceptance of Hungarian products in the Chinese market. He also mentioned his hopes that Hungary will become the centre of European electric vehicle manufacturing through Chinese investments.

Regarding the Russo-Ukrainian war, Balázs Orbán reaffirmed that the Hungarian government’s stance is that an immediate ceasefire and the commencement of peace talks are needed. He added that in light of the recent statements made by the French president, there is an increasing danger of a direct military conflict between NATO and Russia, and reminded that much of the non-Western world takes similar positions to the war similar to that of Hungary.

Balázs Orbán emphasized that as a neighbouring state, Hungary’s paramount interest is the immediate cessation of hostilities, and in this context, the peace process will also be one of the topics to be discussed with the Chinese President.


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Sources: Hungarian Conservative/Kossuth radio

The political director of the Hungarian PM underscored in an interview with public media that the Chinese President’s visit also signifies that Hungary is becoming a key state in the region. He recalled that it has been twenty years since a Chinese president last visited Hungary, and during this time, China has become a superpower and one of the strongest countries economically, in leading positions in numerous technological industries.

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