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With one eye on the EU, China’s foreign minister highlights Hungary ties
- Wang Yi said he hopes Europe follows Hungary’s lead in dealing with China
- The senior diplomat met virtually with his Hungarian counterpart on Tuesday
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China is hoping European Union member countries will remain “objective and amicable” about its rise, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in a meeting with his Hungarian counterpart, Peter Szijjarto.
The two diplomats met by video link on Tuesday, three months after an in-person exchange on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
“We hope that the EU and its member states can, like Hungary, see China’s development and revitalisation in an objective and amicable manner, and maintain the theme of friendly cooperation between China and the EU, properly resolving conflicts and differences that arise,” Wang said.
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“Sustained, sound and steady development” of bilateral relations would serve the common interests of the two nations, he added.
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The two countries also renewed their commitments to the Belt and Road Initiative, signing an agreement on an intergovernmental cooperation committee.
“Hungary was the first European country to sign onto cooperation with the Belt and Road Initiative. The new agreement signed today will construct a new platform and inject new impetus for the high-quality joint construction of the [initiative],” Wang said.
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The deal comes despite assumptions that the project has been stalled to promote the newly launched Global Development Initiative, which is aimed at reducing poverty and improving public health in developing countries.
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