According to Xi Jinping, the Hungarian people are hardworking, open-minded, open and accepting, and Chinese-Hungarian friendship is like good Tokaj wine: fragrant, sweet, substantial and long-lasting.

The Chinese head of state will be a guest of Budapest between May 8 and May 10. President Xi Jinping is holding talks on bilateral political, economic and international issues with Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and President Tamás Sulyok.

Today, Hungary is our important trading partner and the number one target country for Chinese investments in the Central and Eastern European region. The cooperation between the two countries is fruitful and full of vitality

- wrote the Chinese president in his opinion article published in Magyar Nemzet

He recalled that in the past fifteen years, he had met Hungarian leaders visiting China on several occasions, and they formed a deep friendship.

"I am really looking forward to returning to your country and sharing our thoughts with my Hungarian friends about our friendship and cooperation, and planning the development of modern Chinese-Hungarian relations"

- he said in the opinion piece.

He shared his opinion about the Hungarians

In the opinion article, the Chinese president wrote the following about Hungary and the Hungarians: Hungary is famous for its wonderful landscapes and its excellent natives who bring it glory. It has a rich historical and cultural heritage. The poet-patriot Petőfi's poems are widely known, as is the passionate music of Liszt, known as the "king of the piano".

The Hungarian people are hardworking, intelligent, open and accepting. He dares to walk new paths and is rich in innovative skills. Each of his inventions - such as the ballpoint pen, the hologram or the Rubik's cube - is a defining point in the development of humanity.

- said Xi Jinping. He added, "we coped shoulder to shoulder with the international financial crisis, we fought during the special period of the Covid epidemic. Chinese-Hungarian friendship is like good Tokaj wine: fragrant, sweet, substantial and long-lasting.

Viktor Orbán awaits the Chinese president with chicken soup and roast veal

China and Hungary coordinate their strategies

"For 75 years now, China and Hungary have insisted on being a good partner for each other in mutually beneficial cooperation," explained the president. He said that they are now focusing on the high-quality construction of "One Belt, One Road", closer coordination of the strategies of the two countries, as well as on deepening pragmatic cooperation in the areas of investments, infrastructure construction, finance, alternative energy and communication technology, among others. thereby giving a common impulse to the recovery of the world economy.

In the opinion piece, he summarized what is needed for the two countries to raise strategic cooperation to a new level: 

1. This requires us to continue traditional friendship and strengthen the political foundations of bilateral relations. A high level of mutual political trust is an important pillar of Sino-Hungarian relations. With regard to the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, China is ready to, in cooperation with the Hungarian side, plan bilateral relations at a strategic and long-term level at a high level, consolidate the positive momentum of high-level exchanges, support regular intergovernmental, legislative and inter-party exchanges and maintain policy communication, maintain firm and mutual support of each other's fundamental interests, thereby providing a solid political guarantee for the high-level development of Sino-Hungarian relations.

2. We must strengthen the coordination of our development strategies and reach new heights in practical cooperation. On the path of Chinese-style modernization and development, we see Hungary as a traveling companion, with which we are ready to promote the in-depth coordination of the "One Belt, One Road" initiative and the strategy of Hungary's opening to the East, as well as to speed up such large cooperation projects as the construction of the Budapest-Belgrade railway line. China insists on promoting a high level of opening up to the outside world, and is ready to strengthen cooperation with Hungary in booming areas such as clean energy, artificial intelligence, digital economy and environment-friendly development, so as to create new quality productive forces and both sides have high serves its quality development.

3. We must further expand the exchange relations between people, we must strengthen the foundations of public thinking in bilateral relations. Closer communication between people is the lifeblood of bilateral relations. China is ready to continuously expand cooperation and exchange of experience with Hungary in areas such as education, culture, tourism, sports, youth, media and local communities. We are ready to support the teaching of each other's languages, to make good use of the opportunities provided by our mutually created cultural centers, to encourage everyone and every institution to strengthen mutual relations and interaction. China is also ready to cooperate with Hungary in order to further facilitate mutual visas, expand direct flights between the two countries, and create more favorable conditions for transportation between the two countries.

4. We must take the lead in regional cooperation and insist on maintaining the correct direction of China-EU relations. The cooperation between China and CEE countries keeps up with the times, meets the general trends as well as the common interests of China and CEE countries, and is a useful addition to China-EU relations. Recently, relations between China and the EU have been on the rise. China and the EU are each other's comprehensive strategic partners, the range of their common interests is wide, their cooperation is greater than their competition, and there is more agreement than disagreement. It is the shared responsibility of both parties to work together to create greater stability in the world and to give greater impetus to global development. China is ready to cooperate with Hungary in order to deepen and consolidate the cooperation of the China-Central and Eastern Europe Tourism Coordination Center and to promote the development of lasting China-EU relations.

5. We need to strengthen our exchange of ideas on international issues and come together to address global challenges. Nowadays, epochal changes are occurring more and more rapidly, and various global challenges are constantly emerging, the management of which requires the coordinated action of the international community. China and Hungary share similar views and positions close to each other on international and regional issues. We must stand by unity and cooperation, we must strongly support the common values ​​of humanity, such as peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy and freedom.

"We must validate the practice of true multilateralism, we must actively stand up for a fair and orderly multipolar world and inclusive economic globalization. We must continue to help build the community of human destiny and devote more positive energy to maintaining world peace and promoting common development"

he said. "On the new path of the new age, the Chinese side looks forward to writing a new history of friendship with its Hungarian friends, a new chapter of cooperation, so that we can jointly pave the way for a better future for the two peoples," concluded the president.

Featured image: Chinese President Xi Jinping, who is on a two-day state visit to France, attends the sixth session of the France-China Business Council at the Marigny Theater in Paris on May 6, 2024. MTI/EPA POOL/Mohamed Badra