Relations have been generally positive, especially under Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán.[1]
History
In 2017, China and Hungary declared their relationship a comprehensive strategic partnership.[2]: 161
In 2021, it was revealed that Fudan University was planning a campus in Budapest. This led to pushback in the country and to protests, leading the Hungarian government to delay the plans and promise that it will hold a referendum on the issue.[3] On 22 May 2022, the Constitutional Court ruled the referendum as unconstitutional as it concerns an international agreement. Hungarian officials also promised to resume the project after the victory of the ruling Fidesz during the 2022 parliamentary elections.[3]
Hungary has formally blocked the European Union from formally criticizing China's actions in Hong Kong in both 2020 and 2021.[1][2]: 162
On 20 February 2023, Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Politburo member and top diplomat Wang Yi visited Budapest to meet with prime minister Orbán. During the meeting, Hungarian foreign minister Péter Szijjártó stated that "[w]hen we have faced crises in recent years, Hungary has always come out of them stronger than it went into them, but Hungarian-Chinese cooperation has played an absolutely indispensable role in this".[1] On 27 February 2023, Orbán backed the peace plan released by Wang Yi about ending the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[4]
Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Hungary in May 2024 and met with Orbán.[5] During the visit, the two countries entered into a strategic partnership agreement as well as 18 other agreements and memoranda of understanding.[5]
Economic relations
Hungary joined the Belt and Road Initiative in 2015. In the same year, it was the largest recipient of Chinese outbound direct investment with around $571 million.[6] As of at least 2024, Hungary is one of the strongest European supporters of the BRI.[7] Between 2022 and 2024, Hungary received nearly a quarter of Chinese foreign direct investment to Europe.[8] Hungarian foreign minister Szijjártó stated in 2023 that Hungarian-Chinese trade was over $10 billion.[1]
Hungary hosts the largest supply center of Huawei outside of China.[1] In 2022, Chinese battery company CATL agreed to invest $7.5 billion to build a factory in Debrecen.[1] Hungary also has several Chinese electric vehicle battery plants.[5] In 2023, Chinese electric vehicle company BYD Auto chose Szeged as its first large factory in Europe.[8]
Healthcare
Hungary was the first EU member to approve the use of the COVID-19 vaccine developed by China's Sinopharm.[2]: 169
^ abcArežina, Sanja (2023). "China's Relations with Central and Eastern European Countries in a Multipolar World Order 2.0". China and Eurasian Powers in a Multipolar World Order 2.0: Security, Diplomacy, Economy and Cyberspace. Mher Sahakyan. New York: Routledge. ISBN978-1-003-35258-7. OCLC1353290533.
