“China is willing to work with EU countries, including Hungary, to jointly safeguard genuine multilateralism, push forward the process of democratisation of international relations, and promote the development of the global governance system in a more just and reasonable direction.”
In a video posted on Facebook, Szijjarto said China-Hungary relations had strengthened during a “challenging period”.
He also expressed “wholehearted support” for China’s peace plan for Ukraine. In an earlier meeting with his Chinese counterpart Qin Gang, Szijjarto praised China’s peace efforts, saying the two countries were working together to create conditions for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine.
“We must constantly strengthen the voice of the peace camp so that it becomes clear that the global majority is indeed in favour of peace. And China certainly has a key role in strengthening the voice of the peace camp,” he said, according to the Hungarian foreign ministry.
“We value China’s efforts for peace in the past. We value the peace plan that China put on the table.”
Qin said ties between China and Hungary could “stand the test” and the two countries would continue to strengthen their strategic trust and jointly face “risks and challenges”.
The trade expo, which Szijjarto and his delegation attended, has been held since China launched its 16+1 cooperation initiative with 16 Central and Eastern European countries in 2012. The initiative later stalled after Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia quit amid growing tensions between China and EU members over Taiwan and Ukraine.
However, Hungary has remained active in the 16+1 group and the Belt and Road Initiative, a massive infrastructure plan to connect China and Europe, and ties between Budapest and Beijing have developed steadily in recent years.
Hungary received US$7.6 billion in belt and road investment last year – more than any other country – despite a multiyear downward trend in Chinese investment in Europe.
The record amount was thanks to Chinese battery giant CATL’s new plant in eastern Hungary. In a meeting with Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao on Monday, Szijjarto announced another €3 billion (US$3.26 billion) in Chinese investment had been earmarked for Hungary’s automotive industry.
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