China and Hungary strengthen bond through Belt and Road Initiative

China and Hungary agreed on Tuesday to establish the inter-governmental Belt and Road cooperation committee to inject fresh impetus to the development of bilateral ties.

The agreement was signed by State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto during a virtual meeting.

Hungary is the first European country to sign the cooperation document on the Belt and Road cooperation with China.

Wang, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, said that the healthy and stable development of China-Hungary relations serves common interests to the two peoples and contributes to the steady development of relations between China and the European Union.

It is hoped that the EU and all member states of the group could look at China's development and rejuvenation in an objective and friendly manner, and maintain friendships and cooperation of China-EU relations, Wang said.

Wang also expressed the hope that China and Central and Eastern European countries could usher in broader cooperation prospects.

Szijjarto said Hungary attaches high importance to developing relations with China and always deems China as a partner rather than a rival.

Hungary hopes to enhance mutual trust and deepen practical cooperation in various fields with China, Szijjarto said, adding that the country will continue to play an active role in promoting EU-China cooperation and CEEC-China cooperation.