China-Hungary friendship will sustain and grow as the two countries expand cooperation in various fields, said former Hungarian President Pal Schmitt in Budapest on Thursday.
Chinese President Xi Jinping is on a state visit to Hungary at the invitation of President Tamas Sulyok and Prime Minister Viktor Orban, the final leg of his three-nation European tour after France and Serbia.
Xi's visit to Hungary marks his first state visit to the European country as China's head of state.
"This is a historic day for Hungary because we celebrate the 75th anniversary of our friendly cooperation, the diplomatic relations. Life has been changed, but the friendship remained in many fields. So it has a great message for the Hungarian people. I hope also the Chinese people that the two countries still are in friendship. We help each other, we appreciate each other and [in] every field, let it be science, let it be economy, business, sport, culture. The cooperation is exemplary, excellent. So we are proud [of] the visit of the president. We are proud that after visiting France and Belgrade, he chose us Hungarian people to meet," Pal Schmitt said in an interview with China Central Television (CCTV).
A report released by the China Economic Information Service (CEIS) earlier this month indicated that bilateral trade between China and Hungary surged to 14.5 billion U.S. dollars last year, a 73 percent increase over a decade ago. Chinese direct investment in Hungary reached 7.6 billion euros in 2023, accounting for 58 percent of Hungary's total foreign direct investment, reaffirming China's position as Hungary's largest foreign investor.
Schmitt said Hungary will always welcome cooperation and investment from China in the future.
"You know in two countries, the cooperation is mainly [based] on the trust, the mutual trust. There is health care, there is education, as I mentioned sport as well. But mainly the business is the real indicator of the mutual trust. And we are proud that China chooses us to investment," he said.
China-Hungary friendship to grow further on extensive collaboration: former Hungarian president
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
