Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has confirmed that Hungarian businesses have a future in China.
The prime minister made the proclamation in Shanghai, during the opening of the Hungarian pavilion at the Chinese International Import Expo (CIIE) on Tuesday.
The prime minister said that Hungary and China can be proud of the partnership they have built despite the distance between them. Building on this partnership, Hungarian businesses can find their future in China, which he said was also indicated by his talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday.
PM Orbán called Shanghai “the most Hungarian city in China”, making reference to the several landmark buildings designed by Hungarian-born architect László Hudec who worked in the city as chief architect between 1918-1945.
The prime minister is currently in China heading a delegation that includes the foreign affairs and trade minister, the IT minister and the farm minister.
PM Orbán also held talks on Tuesday with the president of the Bank of China, where he praised cooperation with the bank in Budapest for facilitating Chinese businesses planning investment in Hungary. Chen Siqing told the prime minister that the bank plans to expand its activities in Hungary.
During the official visit, five Hungarian companies have signed agreements on doing business in China. Dairy company Kőröstej signed a contract on deliveries to China. A contract was signed on the construction of a solar park in Hungary, and another on Hungarian company Organica’s participation in the construction of a water treatment plant in China.
Contracts were also signed on promoting Hungarian wines in China and on the export of faucet cartridges.
While the Hungarian pavilion at the expo showcases innovations that could be of interest to Chinese partners, such as the test track for self-driving vehicles under construction in Zalaegerszeg and the ELI-ALPS laser research centre in Szeged.