Meeting at the Carmelite Monastery in Budapest, the two leaders announced today’s meeting to be a watershed moment in relations between the two nations. “We are ready to take this as a new starting point to push our relations and practical cooperation into a golden voyage,” said Xi.
Continuing, Xi promised that the two sides would strengthen trade and economic ties whilst also pressing forward on projects such as the Budapest-Belgrade rail link, expanding their collaboration in emerging industries and cultivating new production forces.
Xi underscored the shared geopolitical outlook of the two countries. “We agree that China and Hungary share similar views and positions on the international and regional situation, and are willing to strengthen communication and coordination in the multilateral arena, actively advocate equal and orderly multipolarity in the world and universal and inclusive economic globalization, and resolutely defend international justice and promote the building of a community of shared destiny for humankind.”
Following on from Xi, Orban praised China as being “a friendly country” before acknowledging their support of Hungary’s controversial European stance.
"Our voice in Europe is a lonely one, Europe today supports war, the only exception is Hungary,” said Orban. “Thus we support the Chinese peace initiative presented by President Xi Jinping.”
Before both leaders exited from the podium, Orban also hinted at future nuclear cooperation. “We can extend our cooperation to the full spectrum of the nuclear industry, where so far there has been no collaboration between our two countries. This has big potential because in the area of nuclear industry Hungary has serious international experience and prestige.”
Xi’s appearance in Budapest marked the third and final leg of a whirlwind tour of Europe. Marking his first visit to the continent in five years, Xi initially met the French President Emmanuel Macron with the two discussing trade and foreign policy, in particular, the war in Ukraine.
As part of his charm offensive, Macron broke official protocol to swift Xi to the Pyrenees where the two enjoyed locally sourced specialties alongside their wives. Despite these unorthodox tactics, the value of any meaningful headway stood in sharp contrast against that made on Xi’s next stop, Serbia.
Landing in Belgrade on the 25th anniversary of NATOs bombing of the Chinese Embassy, Xi had earlier penned an open letter in Politika that spoke of Serbia and China’s “ironclad friendship” whilst railing against NATO.
Later, Xi outlined his vision of “a shared future” and further cemented ties between the nations by signing twenty-nine agreements covering various aspects of legal, regulatory and economic collaboration.
