China, Hungary vow further cooperation

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (L) holds a welcome ceremony for Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban before their talks at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Feb 12, 2014. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)

China and Hungary on Wednesday vowed to further promote their cooperation in areas including infrastructure construction, finance and investment, and agriculture.

The pledge came out of a talks between Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and visiting Hungarian Prime Minister Orban Viktor, whose visit marks the 65th anniversary of China-Hungary diplomatic ties and 10th anniversary of their friendly and cooperative partnership.

Li called on the two sides to implement the big projects of infrastructure construction and make good plan on priority projects such as the railway from Hungary to Serbia, promote regional inter-communication and actively discuss nuclear power cooperation among the two countries and the third party.

He said the two sides should expand financial and investment cooperation and implement their local currency swap agreement.

China will provide assistance for Hungarian companies to invest in China and hopes Hungary will facilitate Chinese companies there in visa, working license, taxation and social insurance, he said.

The premier called on the two countries to strengthen technological and agricultural cooperation, establish joint laboratories to share technological achievements, and enhance exchanges of agricultural products trade and processing, and agricultural technology research.

Li hoped China and Hungary could support their bilateral cultural center, bilingual schools and Confucius Institutes, strengthen youth exchanges, and expand cooperation in tourism and civil aviation.

Calling Hungary an important EU member and the country that initiates, promotes and participates in the cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries, Li also calls on Hungary to play a constructive role in the implementation of the China-EU 2020 Strategic Agenda for Cooperation and a guideline for cooperation between China and CEE countries.

Orban echoed Li saying the bilateral cooperation in various areas brought abundant fruits. Hungary attached high importance to relations with China and is willing to strengthen their communication and expand their cooperation in such areas as infrastructure construction, agriculture, finance, tourism and culture.

Hungary will implement those big projects such as the railway from Hungary to Serbia, Orban said. He welcomed Chinese banks to open branches in Hungary and welcomed Chinese companies to invest there or set up their regional center.

Hungary supports cooperation between CEE countries and China and will play a positive role for bilateral cooperation in Europe-China relations.

After the talks at the Great Hall of the People, the two leaders witnessed the signing of several bilateral cooperation deals in areas of science, tourism, medicine, finance and personnel exchanges.