The visit to Beijing follows his recent discussions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv and a subsequent trip to the Kremlin.
Orbán’s visit to Moscow, the first by an EU leader since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, attracted severe criticism in the West. The Hungarian prime minister has maintained good ties with Putin, and his government has frustrated Western governments by blocking EU aid for Ukraine.
He has also sought to portray countries providing support for Ukraine in its struggle for independence and territorial integrity as “pro-war” while he is “pro-peace”.
Peace Mission 3.0
China, which maintains a close alliance with Russia, has advocated a six-point peace plan it issued jointly with Brazil in May. Orbán, following Hungary’s assumption of the EU’s rotating presidency at the start of the month, has launched his own "peace mission," dubbed "Peace Mission 3.0" on his official social media account as he arrived in Beijing.
In a statement on his X account, Orbán expressed his appreciation for China's peace initiatives. According to the Hungarian state news agency MTI, Orbán praised Xi for China’s efforts to promote global peace, which he considers crucial for Hungary.
“China is a key power in creating the conditions for peace in the Russia-Ukraine war,” he wrote.
During their meeting, according to Chinese state media, President Xi Jinping underscored the importance of an early ceasefire and a political resolution to the conflict in Ukraine, asserting that such measures would serve the interests of all involved parties.
He also called for major global powers to contribute positively to the peace process, suggesting that a collective effort is essential for achieving an early ceasefire.
“The international community should create conditions for the resumption of direct dialogue and negotiations between the two sides and provide assistance,” Xi apparently told Orbán.
“It is in the interests of all parties to seek a political solution through an early ceasefire,” he added.
His visit to China comes just before a crucial NATO summit set to discuss further support for Ukraine.
This timing also coincides with the European Commission's recent decision to impose tariffs of up to 37.6% on imports of electric vehicles from China, reflecting ongoing tensions within the EU regarding economic dependencies on China.
Orbán's diplomatic tour now includes plans to visit Washington next, as announced on his Instagram page on Monday.
