Visit to Hungary | Xi Jinping praises exemplary “strategic partnership” in the EU

(Budapest) Visiting Hungary, Chinese President Xi Jinping promised Thursday to consolidate already flourishing ties with the central European country, which he said shows the way for strengthening relations with the EU.

After France and Serbia, the leader of the Asian superpower completes his first European tour since 2019 in Hungary.

The opportunity for him to praise the “friendly policy” of Prime Minister Viktor Orban and the close bilateral economic cooperation, countering trade disputes with Brussels.

After a meeting with Orban at his official residence in Budapest, the Chinese president called on Hungary, which will chair the EU in the second half, to play “a more important role” in the “development” of China-European Union relations. .

Warm welcome, announcement of 18 contracts and “similar positions” according to Xi Jinping on the global geopolitical order: the two men displayed their closeness, between military ceremony, long discussions and gala dinner.

As if to deceive, the Chinese leader also assured the press that he attached “great importance” to his relations with the EU.

For this visit described as “historic” by Budapest, the capital decorated in the colors of China is under high security and the rare Tibetan flags displayed by demonstrators were carefully hidden from Xi Jinping’s view.

“New heights”

“Sino-Hungarian relations are at their peak” in 75 years of history, said Mr. Xi, welcoming Budapest’s concern for “independence”.

A nod to the go-it-alone strategy led by Viktor Orban within the EU.

While scrambling with Brussels, the nationalist leader has resolutely turned towards the East in recent years. And when Brussels distanced itself from Beijing, it instead strengthened ties, rejecting the ideological confrontation of the “blocs”.

This stay of almost three days is an opportunity to “take our strategic partnership to new heights”, said Xi Jinping, China having become the first investor in Hungary last year.

For Viktor Orban, it is a diplomatic success. The choice made by Xi Jinping to visit Paris and Budapest within the EU “shows the importance that Hungary is taking on the international scene”, believes his chief of staff Gergely Gulyas.

New projects have been announced, to build rail links, set up an oil pipeline between Hungary and Serbia and even cooperate in the nuclear sector.

Across the country, battery and electric car factories are growing at an impressive speed, requiring investments of tens of billions of euros.

Enough to arouse the concerns of the opposition which denounces the opacity surrounding contracts, the environmental impact of factories and corruption.

Same view on Ukraine

Welcomed Monday under the gold of the Élysée in Paris, Xi Jinping had “frank” exchanges with French President Emmanuel Macron on China-Europe trade disputes or even Beijing-Moscow links, viewed with suspicion by Westerners against the backdrop of of war in Ukraine.

But during this final Hungarian stage which ends on Friday, the media are kept away and there are no angry subjects.

Because Beijing and Budapest are on the same wavelength, pleading for a peaceful settlement in Ukraine while remaining close to the Kremlin.

Hungary, a “lonely voice” in the face of the war fever agitating the EU according to Viktor Orban, “thanked China for its efforts in favor of peace in the region”.

Through this visit, “Xi sends a message to the rest of Europe: this is how China would like to be treated,” comments Xiaoxue Martin, expert at the Dutch Clingendael Institute, for AFP.

On the outskirts of the Carmelite monastery, with a view of the Danube, the residence of the Prime Minister, tourists were surprised by the excitement.

“Ah! The prince of China is here! », Reacts with a smile an Israeli visitor, disappointed not to be able to take the funicular going up to Buda Castle.

Norbert, a resident of the capital speaking on condition of anonymity, rails against the links established with “a repressive power which invests in its own interests”.