Twelve months on from our last interview, China’s Ambassador to Hungary Gong Tao gives us his take on bilateral relations between the two countries and what makes the friendship so deep-rooted.

BBJ: How would you characterize the China-Hungary bilateral relationship in Q1 2026?

Ambassador Gong Tao: Under the strategic guidance of our leaders, China–Hungary relations continue to develop at a steady pace. At his international press conference at the beginning of the year, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán reaffirmed Hungary’s commitment to the One-China Principle and expressed strong expectations for further bilateral cooperation.

High-level exchanges between the two countries have begun the year on a positive note. In February, Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited Hungary at the invitation of the Hungarian side, where he met with the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó. China’s decision to make Hungary the first stop of its first European visit of the year highlights the importance it attaches to our bilateral relations.

Practical cooperation has yielded both tangible results and promising new initiatives. The Hungarian section of the Budapest–Belgrade railway has officially commenced freight operations, while projects such as the Evoring plant in Jászfényszaru, Intretech in Kapuvár, and Zoomlion at Tatabánya were newly launched.

Cultural and people-to-people exchanges have also been rich and vibrant. The Confucius Institute at Széchenyi István University was officially inaugurated, and the Civilization of the Qin and Han Dynasties exhibition featuring China’s Terracotta Warriors returned to Budapest after 40 years. Chinese Corners were newly established in Borsodbóta and at the NOVA School of Talents in Gödöllő, bringing the two peoples closer through bridges of language and culture.

The two countries also maintain close coordination on international issues. Hungary has joined the UN Group of Friends on Global Governance, an initiative proposed by China to contribute to greater stability and certainty in global peace and development.

BBJ: China has committed to promoting mutually beneficial cooperation projects under the Belt and Road Initiative, such as the Budapest-Belgrade railway project. Are you happy with the progress on this, and are there any more such projects regarding Hungary in the pipeline?

GT: The Hungarian section of the Budapest–Belgrade railway is a flagship project of China–Hungary cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative. Thanks to the joint efforts of both sides, overall progress has been smooth. On Feb. 27, the first freight train departed from Ferencváros Railway Station, marking the official launch of freight operations on the Hungarian section. Passenger services will also be launched in the future.

Once the entire railway is fully operational, travel time between Budapest and Belgrade will be reduced from eight hours to three and a half. This will significantly improve travel conditions for residents along the route and invigorate regional economic and social development. I am confident that people in both Hungary and Serbia will be happy with these improvements.

Two weeks ago, China concluded its annual Two Sessions, which are its most important domestic political meetings of the year. The Outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan adopted during the Two Sessions sets the direction for China’s development over the next five years and presents new opportunities for cooperation with Hungary. China will continue to work with Hungary and other partner countries to advance high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, further strengthening not only the physical connectivity of infrastructure but also the institutional connectivity of rules and standards, as well as people-to-people ties, synergizing development strategies, and improving the overall quality and effectiveness of practical cooperation.

BBJ: With all the on-off uncertainty around tariffs, is it becoming harder to predict and plan economic policy?

GT: As a country of 1.4 billion people, economic planning has never been a simple task for China. The formulation of five-year plans for economic and social development is a longstanding governance practice and a highly systematic undertaking, a process involving broad participation and rigorous evaluation.

The formulation process involves not just top-level design but also public input. Take the 15th Five-Year Plan as an example: more than 3.113 million suggestions were submitted through the online channel alone. People have a say at every step of the process.

Since the introduction of the first Five-Year Plan in 1953, this practice has spanned more than 70 years. Over these decades, China has faced challenges far more complex and severe than tariff fluctuations, from isolation and blockade to the threat of war, from the global financial crisis to the once-in-a-century pandemic. Yet, China has overcome these difficulties, consistently achieving the goals set in each plan and delivering both rapid economic growth and long-term social stability. This is particularly notable in today’s increasingly uncertain global environment.

BBJ: Besides economic and policy considerations, how important are more “human” educational and cultural connections in developing relations between the countries?

GT: As President Xi Jinping observed, “Amity between the people holds the key to sound relations between states.” The foundation of state-to-state relations lies in the friendship between their peoples, and people-to-people exchanges have played an irreplaceable role in the development of China–Hungary ties.

Currently, more than 10 universities in China offer Hungarian language programs, while seven Confucius Institutes have been opened in Hungary. These institutions have cultivated a large pool of professionals familiar with both languages and cultures, providing vital talent support for bilateral industrial cooperation.

Such exchanges bring the peoples of our two countries closer together. From my own experience, I was struck by how the Chinese Spring Festival Gala created a unique moment of connection. Almost overnight, my Hungarian friends were enthusiastically discussing the Kung Fu performance by Chinese robots, while my Chinese friends developed a keen interest in the Legényes dance and the Hungarian guitarist performing at Heroes’ Square, both featured in the Gala. Despite the geographical distance between the two countries, moments like these create a powerful sense of closeness. This illustrates the profound and positive impact of people-to-people exchanges.

This article was first published in the Budapest Business Journal print issue of March 27, 2026.