China and Hungary on Thursday issued a joint statement on the elevation of bilateral ties to an all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership for the new era.
The two sides firmly support each other in safeguarding national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity. China respects Hungary's independent choice of a development path and foreign policies suited to its national conditions, and supports the efforts made by the Hungarian side to maintain national stability and promote economic development, said the statement.
The Hungarian government "reaffirms that there is but one China in the world, that the Government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing China. Hungary opposes all forms of separatist activities aimed at breaking the unity of China," it said.
According to the statement, the two countries are willing to promote high-level exchanges, intensify the exchanges and cooperation between the central and local governments, legislatures, and political parties of the two countries at all levels, strengthen experience sharing on governance, and further enhance strategic and political mutual trust.
In order to enrich the China-Hungary all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership for the new era, the two sides are committed to enhancing synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and Hungary's "Eastern Opening" policy, the statement said.
Leveraging mechanisms and platforms such as the Belt and Road Cooperation Promotion Center, the two sides will pursue deeper and more substantive progress in high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, jointly ensure the safety and security and smooth progress of relevant cooperation projects between the two countries, and strive for more fruitful results in practical cooperation, it said.
The two sides agree to establish an inter-governmental cooperation mechanism on the China-Europe Railway Express, promote infrastructure connectivity, and jointly take practical measures to ensure the security of the transport routes and improve the quality and efficiency of the China-Europe Railway Express, so as to provide important support for deepening economic and trade cooperation between the two countries, the statement said.
China reaffirms its commitment to the development of the China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership, encourages high-level exchanges in order to promote convergence of views on strategic issues, expand cultural and people-to-people exchanges, jointly address global challenges and promote economic cooperation in a proactive and balanced manner. Hungary, as a member state of the European Union, shares these guidelines and will make its contribution to them, according to the statement.
The two sides also underlined the importance of settling disputes between states peacefully through dialogue and consultations.
The joint statement was released by Chinese President Xi Jinping and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban after they had talks in Budapest, Hungary on Thursday.
Xi is on a three-nation European tour from May 5 to 10, which has already taken him to France and Serbia. He is now visiting Hungary, the last leg of his tour.