“We are thankful to China and personally to President Xi for involving Hungary into China’s vaccination cooperation program at a very early stage. Without the vaccines bought from China we would not have been able to carry out the quickest vaccination campaign of the European Union,” he said.

Trade and economic ties between Hungary and China developed swiftly even in 2020, Orbán said. Last year, China was Hungary’s most important trading partner outside Europe, with the largest volume of investments arriving in Hungary from there, he said.

“Hungary looks forward to further developments and milestones in our relations with China. I do believe that forums like the Canton Fair will fulfil their role in being a bond of friendship and a bridge of trade between us and we can welcome new partners who discover the new perspectives of our cooperation and contribute to the development of our economies,” Orbán said.

The Canton import-export fair is the oldest and largest such event in China, organised by the Chinese foreign trade centre twice a year.

PM Orbán: Cooperation With China Crucial

In his message, Orbán noted that global trade had been suffering for almost two years under the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

Last year also ushered in “extraordinary changes” in the world economy, Orbán said.

“The distribution of economic power is transforming in front of our eyes,” and Asian economies and companies are playing an increasingly important role in shaping the world economy, he said.

Meanwhile, a debate is ongoing in the European Union on how to shape the post-Covid world, Orbán said.

“Here in the West there is a huge temptation to reintroduce a world economic order based on the rivalry of great world powers,” he said.

However, many in the EU want to live in a world “based on trade, security, mutual respect and the unconditional recognition of each other’s sovereignty” rather than one “defined by the tension between great world powers,” the prime minister said.

That is why Hungary sees it as crucial to be involved in Chinese economic development, and that China is present as a trading partner and investor in Hungary and central Europe, Orbán said.


MTI Photo