China willing to maintain high-level exchanges with Hungary: premier

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (R) meets with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in Dubrovnik, Croatia, April 12, 2019. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen)

DUBROVNIK, Croatia, April 12 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said on Friday that China is willing to maintain high-level exchanges with Hungary, consolidate political mutual trust, and push bilateral practical cooperation forward for more progress.

Li made the remarks during his meeting with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on the sidelines of the eighth leaders' meeting between China and Central and Eastern European Countries (CEECs) held at the southern Croatian coastal city of Dubrovnik.

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of China-Hungary diplomatic relations, said the premier, adding that the bilateral relationship is at its best time in history.

He called on the two countries to enhance communication and coordination through their joint economic committee, and steadily advance large project cooperation, including the Hungarian section of the Belgrade-Budapest railway.

Li said China welcomes high-quality products, including Hungary's agricultural products, to the Chinese market, and encourages competent Chinese enterprises to invest in Hungary through open tendering.

China also supports its citizens in traveling to Hungary, and is willing to expand people-to-people and cultural exchanges to further consolidate public support for stronger bilateral relations, he added.

For his part, Orban said China and Hungary will this year jointly celebrate the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties.

Hungary is willing to continue deepening practical cooperation with China, accelerate the implementation of the Hungarian section of the Belgrade-Budapest railway, and enhance cooperation in areas including agriculture and tourism, he said.

Orban said Hungary expects to draw up a development plan for Hungary-China cooperation to promote bilateral relations.

The Hungarian side is glad to see that the Europe-China relations are moving forward smoothly, he said, adding that his country will make further efforts to sustain this momentum.