Chinese and Hungarian flags fly on Tuesday on the Elisabeth Bridge in Budapest, Hungary, ahead of President Xi Jinping's visit to the Central European country. BERNADETT SZABO/REUTERS
President Xi Jinping has commended the staunch ties between China and Hungary over the past 75 years, and called on the two countries to carry on their friendship by enhancing cooperation in various fields.
In a signed article published on Wednesday in the Hungarian newspaper Magyar Nemzet, Xi said that China's relationship with Hungary "is at its best in history, and has embarked on a golden voyage".
Xi's visit to Hungary is his second trip to the Central European country in 15 years.
"Over the past 15 years, I have met with visiting Hungarian leaders on many occasions. We have forged a deep friendship," Xi said. "I very much look forward to returning to your country to renew our friendship and work with my friends on a new blueprint for China-Hungary relations and cooperation in the new era."
Noting that this year marks the 75th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations, Xi said the relationship has since been developing and growing steadily and soundly, with tangible results achieved in all fields.
"We see each other as a priority partner of cooperation. We have gone through hardships together and defied power politics together amid volatile international situations," Xi said.
The two countries have supported each other on issues that bear on their respective core interests and are of major concern to them, Xi said, adding that they have enjoyed a high degree of political mutual trust.
China and Hungary established diplomatic relations on Oct 6, 1949, days after the People's Republic of China was founded. The two countries signed an intergovernmental Belt and Road cooperation document in 2015, making Hungary the first European country to have signed such an agreement with China.
Hungary is China's top investment destination in Central and Eastern Europe, while China is Hungary's largest trading partner outside Europe.
Calling bilateral cooperation "strong, fruitful, and dynamic", Xi said the two countries need to strengthen the political foundations of their ties.
"Stronger political mutual trust is the cornerstone of rapid and steady development of China-Hungary relations," he said, adding that the two countries should continue to firmly support each other on issues that involve their core interests.
Xi also encouraged the two countries to enhance communication on international affairs and work together to address global challenges.
"It is important that we stay committed to solidarity and collaboration, champion humanity's common values of peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy and freedom, and practice true multilateralism," he said.
Speaking of practical cooperation, Xi said that China will work with Hungary to forge greater synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative and Hungary's Eastern Opening strategy, and accelerate the construction of the Budapest-Belgrade railway link.
China will also strengthen cooperation with the Central European country in clean energy, artificial intelligence, the digital economy, green development and other emerging areas, Xi said.
Hungary is a member of a mechanism of cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European countries, which was launched in 2012.
Xi said the cooperation is "an important complement to the overall China-Europe relationship", and that China stands ready to work with Hungary to deepen it.
Xi also called for China and Hungary to expand exchanges and cooperation in education, culture, tourism, sports, youth and the media, as well as at the subnational level.
China will continue to work with Hungary to upgrade mutual visa facilitation, expand direct flights, and facilitate people-to-people exchanges, he said.