“Hungary and China's cooperation is built upon the foundation of deep friendship and strategic mutual trust between our two nations,” stated János Lottorcsó, Vice President of the Hungarian National Assembly, in a recent interview with our reporter. He emphasized that amid the complex and volatile international landscape, Hungary and China have consistently advanced their partnership through candid, pragmatic, and stable engagement. Their collaboration across various fields has yielded fruitful outcomes, setting an exemplary model for new types of international relations.
In recent years, with the continuous advancement of China-Central and Eastern European countries cooperation, China-Hungary relations have demonstrated rapid development momentum. Notably, during President Xi Jinping's state visit to Hungary in 2024, the leaders of both countries announced the elevation of China-Hungary relations to a new-era all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership, injecting strong momentum into practical cooperation and people-to-people exchanges between the two sides. “This historic visit has propelled Hungary-China cooperation to achieve fruitful results and charted the future development of bilateral relations,” said Lótorcsói.
As one of the first countries to establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China, Hungary has consistently maintained close exchanges and cooperation with China across political, economic, and cultural domains. Lótorcsóy emphasized that Hungary and China have always developed bilateral relations based on mutual respect and trust, “which serves as the foundation for our continuously deepening cooperation.”
Today, China has become Hungary's largest source of foreign investment and its largest trading partner outside the EU. Lótorcsói believes that Chinese investments in key sectors such as new energy, battery manufacturing, and logistics infrastructure have not only created numerous jobs but also enhanced Hungary's competitiveness within regional industrial chains. “We welcome Chinese enterprises to invest here,” he stated. “Chinese technology and expertise align perfectly with Hungary's economic development needs.”
In Lótorcsóji's view, the solid foundation of Hungary-China relations extends beyond trade and investment, rooted in people-to-people exchanges and mutual trust. Statistics show that air passenger traffic between the two countries has increased fivefold over the past 15 years. “This symbolizes not only economic exchange but also cultural integration,” he remarked. He added, “Increased contact and mutual understanding between our peoples in areas like tourism and language learning have fostered grassroots friendship, which has become the bedrock for stable development between our nations.”
Lótorcsóy emphasized Hungary's commitment to continuing its role as a “bridge between Europe and China,” assisting more Chinese enterprises in entering the European market and promoting deeper mutual understanding and cooperation between Europe and China. “We believe China's development presents opportunities for the world,” Lótorcsóy stated. As an EU member state, Hungary is willing to play a more active role within multilateral frameworks to promote cooperation among multiple parties."
Regarding future cooperation directions, Lóthory Cao Yi believes that Hungary and China possess vast potential for collaboration in numerous fields, including technological innovation, green energy, infrastructure, and vocational education. “Regardless of how the international situation evolves, the stability and complementarity of Hungary-China relations will ensure their strong resilience.”
Lótorcsóy emphasized that amid today's global uncertainties, friends should strengthen trust and deepen cooperation. This entails advancing mutually beneficial economic outcomes while elevating bilateral relations and practical collaboration to new heights. “I have always believed that true friends stand shoulder to shoulder in critical moments to overcome challenges together. China is precisely such a trustworthy friend.” (Liaoxin News Agency)

Translated with DeepL.com (free version)