Xi, Hungarian PM jointly meet press in Budapest

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban jointly met the press in Budapest on Thursday.

Noting that this year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Hungary, Xi said that over the past 75 years, the two sides have always followed the principles of mutual respect, equality, mutual benefit and win-win to ensure that bilateral relations keep moving in the right direction. The relationship is now at its best in history, he added.

Xi said he had cordial, friendly and productive talks with Orban, adding that they had an in-depth exchange of views and reached extensive consensus on the development of bilateral ties in the new era and on issues of mutual interest. They also witnessed the exchange of a series of important bilateral cooperation documents and Xi expressed full confidence in the future of bilateral relations.

Xi stressed that he and Prime Minister Orban both agree that for a long time, China and Hungary have been good friends that trust and help each other, and good partners in win-win cooperation. It is natural for the two nations to further elevate the relations and add new dimensions to cooperation, he said.

China and Hungary will announce the establishment of an all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership for the new era, and China would like to take this as a new starting point to promote bilateral relations and pragmatic cooperation to a new height, said Xi.

Both China and Hungary believe that the high-level political mutual trust has laid a solid foundation for the development of China-Hungary relations, said Xi, adding that both sides are willing to maintain the momentum of close high-level interactions, enhance dialogues and exchanges between governments, legislatures and parties to share experience in national governance.

China highly appreciates Hungary's firm commitment to the one-China principle, and will firmly support Hungary in following a development path tailored to its national realities, said Xi.

Both China and Hungary believe the Belt and Road Initiative and Hungary's Eastern Opening strategy are highly compatible. The two sides will better align development strategies, deepen cooperation in economy and trades, investment, finance and other areas, promote construction of key projects including the Budapest-Belgrade railway, expanding cooperation in emerging industries, cultivate new quality productive forces to empower economic and social development in both countries, said Xi.

Noting that both China and Hungary believe that the traditional friendship of two countries has solid foundation, Xi said the two sides will continue to support the teaching of each other's languages, make good use of their cultural centers, strengthen exchanges and cooperation in sports, media, subnational governments and other fields, and promote mutual learning and understanding between different cultures and peoples. The two countries will further optimize their respective exit-entry policies and enhance direct flight linkages to create more favorable conditions for facilitating people-to-people exchanges.

Xi said both countries believe that cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European countries (CEEC) upholds the principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits, which has set a fine example of cross-regional cooperation. China and Hungary will work together to expand the scope, broaden the coverage and raise the levels of the China-CEEC Cooperation so as to deliver greater benefits to the people of relevant countries, he said.

China values the China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership and believes Europe is an important force of the multi-polar world, and a key partner in China's bid to advance Chinese modernization. China supports Hungary to play a bigger role within the European Union and facilitate greater development of China-EU relations, Xi said.

Xi said China and Hungary share similar views and positions on the international and regional situation, and are willing to strengthen communication and coordination in the multilateral field, actively advocate an equal and orderly multipolar world and universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, resolutely uphold international fairness and justice, and build a global community of shared future.

Xi stressed that China is comprehensively building itself into a great modern socialist country in all respects and advance the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through the Chinese path to modernization. The Chinese modernization will bring huge opportunities to the world, and China would like to achieve common development and prosperity together with Hungary, he said.

Xi believes with the joint efforts of both sides, China and Hungary will surely enjoy a brighter future.

For his part, Orban warmly welcomed Xi's state visit to Hungary on the occasion of celebrating the 75th anniversary of China-Hungary diplomatic ties.

He said that the two nations enjoy profound friendship and solid relations, and Hungary will continue to follow the one-China principle. The two sides respect and support each other, and mutually beneficial cooperation has benefited the people, Orban noted.

He thanked China for providing valuable assistance to Hungary during its difficulties, saying that China is an important and positive force in a multipolar world. Hungary supports the global initiatives proposed by President Xi and echoes China's proposals to promote the peaceful settlement of the Ukraine crisis and other regional conflicts, Orban said, adding that Hungary hopes to further enhance its relations with China and the two countries can be firm partners of cooperation in respective modernization processes.

On Thursday night, Orban and his wife Aniko Levai held a grand welcome banquet for President Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan at the Buda Castle.

Xi, Hungarian PM jointly meet press in Budapest

Xi, Hungarian PM jointly meet press in Budapest

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with Kazakhstan's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Murat Nurtleu on bilateral relations in Astana, Kazakhstan on Monday.

The talks took place ahead of the meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs, which is scheduled to be held in Astana on Tuesday. Wang, also member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, arrived in Kazakhstan following a two-day visit to Tajikistan.

Noting that this is his second meeting with Nurtleu in two months, Wang said China and Kazakhstan, as important neighbors and preferred cooperative partners to each other, need to maintain regular strategic communication and coordination.

Wang said that under the care and push of President Xi Jinping and President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the two countries have established a permanent comprehensive strategic partnership, and on this basis, decided to build a China-Kazakhstan community of shared future, opening up new prospects for bilateral relations.

China stands ready to work with Kazakhstan to implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state, carry forward traditional friendship, pursue common development and prosperity through mutual support, and build a vibrant and meaningful China-Kazakhstan community of shared future, so as to benefit the two countries and their people and contribute to peace and development of the region and the world at large, Wang said.

Wang said China supports the efforts to expand bilateral trade and investment cooperation, hopes that the two sides will reach consensus on a new version of the investment protection agreement as soon as possible, and hopes that Kazakhstan will provide a sound business environment to facilitate Chinese enterprises to invest and operate in Kazakhstan.

China is willing to strengthen cooperation with Kazakhstan in oil and gas resources and other fields, continue to improve the efficiency and quality of connectivity, and strengthen cooperation on new quality productive forces, Wang said.

Wang said China supports the efforts to expand tourism cooperation, strengthen sub-national and cultural exchanges and enhance people-to-people ties between the two countries.

Nurtleu said Kazakhstan gives priority to strengthening friendship with China in its diplomacy, which conforms to the fundamental interests of the people of the two countries and is conducive to regional peace and security.

The profound friendship between the two heads of state is the locomotive of Kazakhstan-China friendly cooperation and has ushered in new "golden 30 years" of bilateral relations, he said.

Nurtleu said Kazakhstan is willing to work with China to promote the rapid development of bilateral relations, strengthen exchanges between legislative bodies and in sub-national affairs, expand practical cooperation in economy and trade, agriculture and other fields, deepen tourism cooperation and people-to-people exchanges, so as to bring benefits and prosperity to the peoples of the two countries.

Kazakhstan speaks highly of and actively supports the three global initiatives proposed by Xi. It firmly adheres to the one-China principle, believing that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China, and this position will not waver in any way, he said.

Wang stressed that the election in the Taiwan region is China's sub-national election, and Taiwan has never been a country and will never be a country in the future.

Neither the election result nor the so-called "ceremony" on Monday can change the basic fact that Taiwan is a part of China, nor can the election change the historical trend that China will eventually and inevitably be reunified, he said.

Wang appreciated Kazakhstan's firm adherence to the one-China principle, and its support for China's opposition to "Taiwan independence" secession and China's endeavors to achieve national reunification at an early date.

Wang said China will, as always, support Kazakhstan in safeguarding national independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, and oppose any external interference in Kazakhstan's internal affairs.

The two sides agreed to strengthen cooperation to ensure the full success of the upcoming SCO Foreign Ministers Council meeting, prepare for the SCO summit, and push for greater development of the SCO.

Following the talks, the two sides signed a protocol on amending and supplementing the agreement on the establishment of the China-Kazakhstan Cooperation Committee, and jointly met the press.

From May 18 to 21, Wang is set to attend the SCO Foreign Ministers Council meeting and pay official visits to Kazakhstan and Tajikistan, at the invitation of Nurtleu and Tajikistan's Minister of Foreign Affairs Sirojiddin Muhriddin.

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