Xi Jinping praises Hungary’s “independent” policy ahead of meeting with Viktor Orban. What the Chinese leader is looking for in Budapest

Xi Jinping praised Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s government for pursuing an “independent” foreign policy and “defying” the direction of major powers, in a message released shortly before he arrived in Budapest on a European tour that analysts say , has the role of exploiting the divisions in the EU and NATO.

• As part of the European PULSE project, HotNews.ro together with partners from the Hungarian publication HVG prefaces the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Budapest.

The Chinese president, who is due to travel from Serbia to Hungary on Wednesday night as part of his five-day European tour, called on Budapest to “lead” relations between the Central and Eastern European nations and China.

“We went through hardships together and defied power politics together amid volatile international relations,” Xi said, according to the English-language version of the article published by Hungarian media group Magyar Nemzet, quoted by the Financial Times.

“We have found our respective way for sovereign states to independently carry out friendly exchanges with other countries,” the Beijing leader added.

The comments appeared to be a reference to how Orban, Europe’s longest-serving prime minister, has defied pressure from Brussels, the US and NATO by maintaining friendly relations with Moscow and deepening business ties with China.

China regards Hungary as one of its closest partners in Europe, with Beijing promising Budapest numerous investments.

One potential project under discussion is an electric vehicle factory for China’s Great Wall Motor, Chinese officials said, following investments by electric vehicle maker BYD and battery maker CATL.

However, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said reports that Xi might announce plans for the plant during his visit were premature. “Talking about certain companies during negotiations, before any agreement is concluded, is against Hungary’s national interests,” he said.

Last December, Chinese giant BYD announced the construction of a new production base for energy vehicles in the southern Hungarian city of Szeged. Since 2016, BYD already owns a factory in the northwestern Hungarian city of Komárom that assembles electric buses.

From the menu of Xi’s visit

In the context of the visit, Budapest will not be the only one to experience a total shutdown, the same being true for the independent press.

Just one day before the president’s arrival, journalists were left in the dark: there was no information about the official schedule, nor about the press conferences to which the press could be invited.

One thing is certain: according to the investigative portal VSquare, the Hungarian capital prepared for the high-level visit with the highest security protocol, at a level similar to that implemented during Pope Francis’ visit to Hungary last year.

Traffic restrictions will be particularly strict, the entire area of ​​the castle, where the offices of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and President Tamás Sulyok are located, will be closed. There is even talk of closing the popular tourist attraction – the funicular on Budapest’s Castle Hill.

The timing of the visit could also have symbolic significance: May 9 is Europe Day and the 20th anniversary of Hungary’s accession to the European Union, which was celebrated without major government events.

The Hungarian government is a long-standing loyal ally of China and has provided everything from the Budapest-Belgrade railway project to battery factories and electric vehicle plants.

As the date approaches, there is a steady stream of speculation about what might be on the menu.

One possibility is the construction of a railway to Budapest airport using Chinese loans, Chinese subcontractors and Chinese technology.

In a recent interview, the general manager of Paks II Zrt. Gergely Jákli also hinted that the Chinese could even be involved in the Russian Paks nuclear power plant expansion project. Jákli also said that, for now, they are just looking at possible “entry points”.

In any case, Xi’s visit could be a good opportunity to analyze the situation and get to know each other.

Szijjártó said at least 16 agreements are expected to be signed with China during Xi’s visit to Hungary, covering the infrastructure and construction, energy and industry sectors. The two countries will begin a cooperation program “encompassing the entire nuclear energy portfolio,” he said.

According to Chinese estimates cited by the Financial Times, foreign direct investment accumulated by Chinese enterprises in Hungary could reach 30 billion euros by the end of this year.

“Our countries must lead regional cooperation,” Xi said in his letter, adding that Hungary could help China deepen ties with Central and Eastern European countries to ensure “stable” relations between Beijing and the EU.

“Divide and Conquer”

Xi Jinping began his European tour with a visit to France, where he gave little sign that he was prepared to offer major concessions on trade or foreign policy.

News agencies reported that during his meetings with Macron, Xi did not budge at all on the dispute with the EU, which complains that oversupply and weak demand in China could threaten EU industry by dumping cheap products on the bloc’s markets.

The next two stops – from Serbia and Hungary, the most Russia-friendly European countries – are the ones that have raised concerns among European officials.

Observers said Xi’s choice to visit Serbia and Hungary was meant to tighten relations with two European countries that are pro-Russia and big beneficiaries of Chinese investment.

Xi’s objective would rather be to neutralize the EU’s economic security agenda, including tariff threats, by exploiting internal differences, Mathieu Duchatel, a researcher at the Montaigne Institute, explained to Reuters before the visit.

Speaking about China’s strategy towards Europe, Duchatel observed that it follows the principle of “divide and rule”. “This is not hidden, but in plain view,” he pointed out.

Xi, who arrived in Serbia on Tuesday, lashed out at NATO over the 1999 bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade that left three dead, saying the Chinese and Serbs should “never forget” the incident.

Welcoming Xi to Belgrade on Wednesday, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić told the crowd he was happy to give the Chinese leader “the warmest welcome in the world”.

Vučić welcomed a free trade deal with China, which comes into force in July, which he said would “bring security” to Serbian farmers.

Construction and Transport Minister Goran Vesić told reporters that Serbia will buy Chinese high-speed trains for the Belgrade-Budapest railway, which will be almost completed by the end of 2024, and that China will also participate in the construction of the first subway from Belgrade.