China and Hungary Declare Start of ‘New Era’ in Relations

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping in Budapest on Thursday, where the two leaders reached an agreement to enhance their partnership and establish a “new era” in bilateral relations.

During their joint press conference, both Xi and Orban expressed admiration for each other’s countries, with the host commending China as “one of the pillars of the new world order.” Xi emphasized the longstanding friendship and support between China and Hungary, stating that they should further elevate their relations and enhance cooperation.

The leaders unveiled a declaration that outlines their commitment to an all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership for the new era, aiming to strengthen the bond between their nations.

This builds upon the existing “comprehensive strategic partnership” established in 2017, which has proven to be mutually beneficial. The new document highlights the priority status of their cooperation, emphasizing equal treatment, political trust, and deepening cooperation for mutual benefit.

Xi’s visit to Hungary is part of his first European tour in five years, which began with his visit to France earlier this week.

During his stay in France, Xi held talks with President Emmanuel Macron, expressing his willingness to maintain strategic communication with the country. Macron, on the other hand, praised the friendly relationship and productive cooperation between China and France.

Following his visit to France, Xi traveled to Serbia, coinciding with the 25th anniversary of the NATO bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade. In an opinion piece published in a Serbian newspaper, Xi emphasized that while the Chinese people cherish peace, they will not allow such tragic history to repeat itself.

During his visit to Serbia, Xi met with President Aleksandar Vucic, and both leaders discussed their countries’ shared future. Serbia became China’s first strategic partner in central and eastern Europe eight years ago, and now it is the first European country with which China will build a community with a shared future, according to Xi.