Xi given warm welcome by Hungary as Orbán seeks to deepen ties
Hungary rolled out the red carpet for Xi Jinping yesterday in a show of warmth that contrasted with wariness in the rest of the EU over China’s stance on trade, global politics and human rights.
On the third and final stop of his first European tour in five years, Xi was given a ceremonial welcome by Hungary’s president, Tamás Sulyok, at Buda Castle, in Budapest, before talks with Viktor Orbán. The Hungarian prime minister, the EU’s longest-serving leader, has sought to deepen ties with Beijing and has blocked EU motions criticising China’s human rights abuses.
After that meeting, the Chinese state media agency Xinhua reported that the two countries would elevate their ties to “all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership in the new era”. China has used a similar formula to describe its relations with Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Venezuela.
Orbán said the two countries would expand their cooperation in “the full spectrum” of the nuclear industry. In a major departure from the rest of Europe, he said he supported China’s peace plan for Ukraine. Western leaders have criticised the 12-point plan, published in 2023, because it does not call on Russia to withdraw its forces or return territory it has seized.
Xi arrived in Hungary late on Wednesday after stops in Serbia and France, and was met at the airport by Orbán. “Welcome to Hungary, President Xi,” Orbán posted on X with a picture of the two men shaking hands and smiling warmly.
The EU in 2019 declared China “a systemic rival” and the European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, said last year that Europe needed to “de-risk” relations with Beijing, in part by cutting dependency on Chinese supply chains.
Hungary, which is marking 75 years of diplomatic relations with Beijing, has distanced itself from the EU strategy.