CATL's largest investment important step for Hungary's electrification

The project of building the largest manufacturing factory of a Chinese electric vehicle battery maker in Hungary marks a crucial step for the electrification of Hungary, said a manager of the company.

Hungary aims to become a center for the production of electric vehicles in Europe. This has opened up opportunities for overseas companies to build production facilities for the European market.

Two years ago, CATL, a Chinese battery manufacturing company, began building its super-factory in eastern Hungary. Upon completion, the factory, the CATL's second overseas factory after the one in Germany, will be the biggest manufacturing facility of the company in Europe.

Located in Debrecen in East Hungary, the 100-gigawatt-hours battery plant is an investment of more than 7 billion euros. It is not far from the auto plants of brands such as Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Volkswagen, showcasing Hungary's ambition of becoming a manufacturing hub of European electric vehicles.

The construction is expected to finish in 2025, and soon thereafter, the production will start.

"This is going to be built in three phases. The construction behind us is the first phase that is currently being built. Actually, we arrived at the structure-building phase by the end of last September, and we are actually now building the roof and facade of the first building, in which the battery cells and modules will be produced from 2025," said Sidlo Noemi, spokesperson of CATL Hungary.

With steadily enhanced bilateral ties between China and Hungary, more Chinese companies have come to invest in the market. BYD, another Chinese manufacturer of electric vehicles, has also announced its plan to invest and build a factory in Hungary, bringing along automated production and advanced technology.

"I think this is a very important step in the life of our country. The government has moved the economic relations and economic processes to invest into the industry of the future, so the electrification," said the spokesperson.

Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Hungary on Wednesday following his visits to France and Serbia during his three-nation European tour. Sidlo said the visit is welcomed by the business community.

"Hungary and China have been having a very deep and long-term good relationship, also, economic and diplomatic relationship. The president of China is welcomed in Hungary. Thanks to the One Belt and One Road Initiative, I think this visit is very important for Hungary and also for the business community," she said.

President Xi said during his talks with Hungarian President Tamas Sulyok on Thursday that Hungary is one of the first countries to establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China, and the traditional friendship between the two countries has a long history. No matter how the international situation changes, China-Hungary relations have always developed, and it will thrive through the Belt and Road Initiative partnership and investments by companies of both countries, he said.

CATL's largest investment important step for Hungary's electrification

A Chinese mainland spokesperson said Lai Ching-te has sent "a dangerous signal" of seeking "Taiwan independence" and making provocations to undermine cross-Strait peace and stability in his speech upon assuming the role of Taiwan region's new leader on Monday.

Chen Binhua, a spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, described Lai's speech as one that stubbornly followed the "Taiwan independence" stance, wantonly advocated separatism, incited cross-Strait confrontation and sought independence by relying on foreign support and by force.

Chen said the mainstream public aspiration on the island is for peace and development, instead of war and recession, while Lai has ignored the public opinion, exposing his nature of being "a worker for Taiwan independence."

The current complex and grave situation across the Strait is rooted in the fact that the Democratic Progressive Party has stubbornly stuck to the separatist stance of "Taiwan independence," rejected the 1992 Consensus that embodies the one-China principle, and kept colluding with external forces to make provocations of seeking "Taiwan independence," Chen said.

Taiwan is an inalienable part of China, said Chen, stressing that "Taiwan independence" and peace across the Strait are incompatible as fire and water.

"We have firm determination to resolve the Taiwan question and realize national reunification; we have strong capabilities to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity; and we will take resolute actions to fight separatist activities seeking 'Taiwan independence' and external interference," he said.

"We will never tolerate any 'Taiwan independence' separatist acts in any form," said Chen.

China must and will be reunified, Chen stressed. No matter how the situation on the island changes and who assumes the regional leader, it will not change the fact that both sides of the Strait belong to one China, or impede the historical trend of national reunification, he said.

"We will fully implement the Party's overall policy for resolving the Taiwan question in the new era, unswervingly uphold the one-China principle and the 1992 Consensus, work together with Taiwan compatriots to promote the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations and cross-Strait integrated development, and resolutely advance the reunification of the motherland," said Chen.

Mainland says Lai sends "dangerous signal" in speech as Taiwan's new leader