(Photo: Gergely Botár/kormany.hu)

Maintaining and strengthening excellent bilateral relations with Hungary based on mutual respect is among China’s interests, Liu stressed. Orbán and Liu concluded that the majority of Chinese investments in Eastern Europe are directed towards Hungary, the website reported. Chinese trade with Hungary is growing more dynamically than it is with other countries in the region, it added.

The parties attending yesterday’s meeting also addressed the 16+1 regional cooperation, a Chinese initiative that brings together China and 16 Central and East European countries, consisting of 11 EU Member States and five EU candidate countries, to expand cooperation in the fields of investment, transport, finance, science, education, and culture. The next summit for strengthening cooperation between China and CEE countries will be held in Budapest, and will also be attended by the Premier of the People’s Republic of China, Havasi added.

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó and Minister of Human Capacities Zoltán Balog also attended the meeting.