(BRF) 3rd Ld-Writethru: China, Hungary establish comprehensive strategic partnership

Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Saturday, announcing the establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.

Orban is in Beijing on an official visit to China before attending the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation scheduled for May 14 to 15.

The establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership reflects the reality of developing China-Hungary ties and will create vast room for bilateral cooperation, Xi said.

The president called for close alignment of the Belt and Road Initiative with Hungary's Eastern Opening policy and enhanced top-level planning for all-round cooperation.

Stressing the need to explore the potential for cooperation, Xi said the two countries should continue pushing forward major projects such as the Hungary-Serbia railway project, expanding financial cooperation, increasing people-to-people exchanges, and strengthening cooperation in culture, education, tourism, and local authorities.

China is willing to work with Hungary to continuously promote cooperation between China and the Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), and enhance the development of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and the European Union (EU), Xi said.

Orban said Hungary is willing to work with China to carry forward the comprehensive strategic partnership.

Speaking highly of China's economic and social development, and progress made in the country's poverty alleviation in particular, Orban said China's market economy status is indisputable.

Hungary is committed to deepening cooperation with China in infrastructure and agriculture, and supports the development of China-CEE cooperation and China-EU relations, Orban said.

Noting that the Belt and Road construction will offer important opportunities for all countries, Orban said Hungary is willing to actively participate in relevant cooperation.

After the meeting, the two sides released a joint declaration on establishing the comprehensive strategic partnership.

China and Hungary will jointly draft and implement a plan to cooperate on Belt and Road construction, and prepare for the establishment of a center to promote China-Hungary cooperation in this aspect, according to the declaration.

Hungary supports the joint efforts made by China and the EU to safeguard and promote a free, open and inclusive multilateral trade system, oppose protectionism in trade and investment, and sign the China-EU investment treaty at an early date, said the declaration.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang also met with Orban on Saturday.

Li said the two countries should focus on Belt and Road construction and major projects in the "16+1 cooperation" framework, work to make substantial progress in major projects such as the Hungary-Serbia railway, promote a balanced development of trade, actively develop third-party cooperation, and nurture new growth areas of cooperation.

China supports Hungary's hosting the sixth leaders' meeting of China and CEE countries and would work with all parties to make the meeting inject new impetus into "16+1 cooperation" and China-EU relations, Li said.

Orban said Hungary is willing to increase cooperation with China in infrastructure, finance, agricultural food and shipping, accelerate the building of Hungary-Serbia railway, conduct third-market cooperation, and expand exchanges in education. Endi