Tourism is one of the most successful sectors of Hungarian-Chinese cooperation, Szijjártó said, noting that the number of Chinese tourists visiting Hungary reached 277,000 in the year before the pandemic, and came close to 100,000 last year.

“The resumption of direct flights is also helpful,” he said, noting that from April, airlines will go back to operating 13 flights a week between Budapest and the Chinese cities of Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing and Ningbo.

The minister said it was good news for Hungarian tourists and businesspeople that the Chines authorities will offer visa-free travel to Hungarian nationals between March 14 and November 30.

He said that “in the spirit of reciprocity”, Hungary issues long-term visas for the leaders of Chinese companies investing in Hungary.

These steps will further strengthen the economic and tourism cooperation between the two countries and their citizens, Szijjártó added.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said earlier in Beijing that China will offer visa-free travel to citizens of Hungary, Switzerland, Ireland, Austria, Belgium and Luxembourg from March 14 “on an experimental basis”.

He expressed hope that more countries would ease visa rules for Chinese nationals, too.

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