Car factories, railways, billions of investments: Hungary and China agree on a “comprehensive strategic partnership”

Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán during his visit to Hungary on Thursday, and the two leaders agreed on a “comprehensive strategic partnership” between the two countries.

Orbán stated that the two countries have always had friendly relations, and added that Chinese companies provide tens of thousands of jobs in Hungary.

Hungary wants to take advantage of the opportunities provided by high-quality Chinese investments in the field of e-mobility and the availability of Chinese technology, Orban said.

Xi, in turn, called for further expansion of relations between the countries. “We both believe that the traditional friendship between our countries is based on solid foundations,” he added.

The Chinese president also celebrated the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Hungary and China in Budapest.

During Xi’s visit, the delegations of the two countries signed a series of intergovernmental agreements, but more information about them has not yet been disclosed to the media. Orbán announced that the two countries also want to cooperate in the nuclear industry, which has not happened so far.

Hungary is the only member of the European Union (EU) participating in China’s “New Silk Road” initiative. Orban, who has disagreements with Brussels on many issues, seeks to build closer economic relations with Russia, as well as China and other Asian countries.

China is building an approximately 350-kilometer railway between Budapest and Belgrade, as well as building large factories for the production of electric cars and their batteries in Hungary.

In Hungary, environmental activists have been protesting for months against the planned Chinese battery factory in Debrecen.

Xi also visited France and Serbia this week, concluding his European tour in Hungary.