China-EU relations: Beijing promotes Hungary’s coming presidency as chance for ‘more pragmatic China policy’ in Europe

It also comes amid souring relations after the EU accused China of overcapacity in green industries that might distort the market – a claim Beijing denies. The EU has also embarked on a de-risking drive that targets China’s supply chain and hi-tech industries.

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President Xi Jinping tells German chancellor to seek ‘common ground’ to strengthen ties

Wang called Hungary “a European country of unique influence that adopts an independent policy”. He said Beijing hoped Budapest would encourage the EU to take a “rational and friendly view of China’s development” and pursue a “more active and pragmatic China policy”.

“[China hopes Hungary will] strengthen China-EU strategic communication, create more positive expectations for mutually beneficial cooperation, and promote the sustained, stable and healthy development of China-EU relations,” Wang said, according to the readout.

In response, Szijjarto said Hungary opposed “decoupling” with China, and welcomed more investment from Beijing flowing into his nation under the Belt and Road Initiative, according to the Chinese readout.

The foreign minister also said Hungary had always believed that treating China as a partner was “a right choice”, while regarding the powerhouse as an enemy would only lead to “missed opportunities”. Szijjarto vowed to boost China-EU relations through connections with Budapest and Beijing.

“China is a major country with global influence. Hungary welcomes China’s increasing role in maintaining world peace and stability. Hungarian-Chinese and European-Chinese relations must remain robust in the current turbulent international situation,” he said.

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Szijjarto’s trip to China came as China-EU official exchanges reached a high this year, even as relations between the two economies are souring, including visits to Beijing by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne.

Meanwhile, amid the ongoing Ukraine war and US-China rivalry, some EU countries have taken action against China in the name of national security in recent months.

This week, EU officials entered the Chinese firm Nuctech’s Dutch and Polish subsidiaries, saying it was “carrying out unannounced inspections at the premises of a company active in the production and sale of security equipment in the EU”. It has drawn China’s official opposition.

Days after Scholz’s visit, Berlin this week arrested three people on suspicion of spying for China and hours later London charged two people under the Official Secrets Act over allegedly spying for China.

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Why the EU, US are concerned about China’s overcapacity

Under Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s rule, Budapest has been widely seen as a Beijing and Moscow-friendly hard-right EU member. This year, the European bloc’s parliament firmly questioned and tried to revoke the country’s coming presidency.

Since Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine, Hungary has extensively used its veto power to derail decisions related to punishing Russia or aiding Ukraine, such as the EU ban on Russian oil and the 50 billion euro (US$53 billion) special fund for Ukraine.

Last year, under Brussels’ call for de-risking from China, Orban was the only leader to attend China’s Belt and Road Forum, vowing deeper infrastructure cooperation between the two nations. Just months later, Italy withdrew from the belt and road programme.

South China Morning Post