China, Hungary Elevate Ties to ‘All Weather’ Partnership

During President Xi Jinping's visit to Hungary, China and Hungary agreed to elevate their bilateral relations to an "all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership for the new era." This upgrade from their 2017 comprehensive strategic partnership status aims to enhance cooperation across various sectors including clean energy, artificial intelligence, mobile communication technology, and nuclear energy. The agreement was announced in a joint statement by the Chinese foreign ministry [para. 1][para. 2].

President Xi emphasized that this partnership marks a "golden voyage toward greater goals" for both nations. The discussions also highlighted ongoing projects under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), with both sides committing to achieving more substantive progress [para. 2][para. 3].

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán expressed his support for increased Chinese investment in Hungary. He specifically mentioned welcoming more businesses, especially in light of Western concerns over China’s expanding exports in electric vehicles (EVs) and batteries. Orbán disagreed with the notion of "de-risking" these industries, which some Western countries have suggested due to perceived overcapacities [para. 4].

Hungary plays a significant role as a BRI partner and supports China's EV industry. It is home to a major battery factory by Chinese firm Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd., slated for completion in 2025. Additionally, BYD Co. Ltd., China’s largest EV-maker, plans to establish its first European car factory in Hungary [para. 5].

With Hungary set to assume the rotating EU Council presidency in July, Xi expressed hopes that Budapest would actively foster positive China-EU relations. He noted that Hungary serves as a bridge connecting Eastern and Western economies and technologies [para. 6].

Xi's trip to Hungary concluded his six-day European tour, which also included stops in Serbia and France where he sought to strengthen ties and expand cooperation. This visit underscores China's strategy of forming "all-weather" partnerships globally—a term denoting unwavering support regardless of international dynamics—with other nations like Belarus, Ethiopia, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, and Venezuela already having similar relationships with Beijing [para. 7].