Hungary is ready to promote the development of Europe-China relations through cooperation between China and central and eastern Europe, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said in Beijing at talks with President Xi Jinping on Thursday, the Chinese English-language paper China Daily reported.

Orbán, who is attending the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing, expressed firm support for the Belt and Road Initiative, calling it “an opportunity rather than a threat”.

Orbán said that “the Hungarian government and people cherish the extraordinary friendship with China” and that Hungary is optimistic about China’s high-tech development and welcomes investment from China.

The paper cited Xi as saying that China and Hungary should cooperate within the Belt and Road framework, including the upgrade of the Budapest-Belgrade railway, and “strive for more concrete results”. The Chinese president noted that “this year marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries and China looks forward to working with Hungary to bring the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership to a new level.”

In the featured photo: Viktor Orbán and Xi Jinping. Photo by Balázs Szecsődi/PM’s Press Office