Chinese President Xi Jinping is wrapping up his European tour with a final stop in Hungary, where he is expected to discuss Ukraine and investments in Hungarian infrastructure, energy and electric vehicle manufacturing.
Hungarian soldiers on horseback were part of a warm welcome Xi received Thursday when he met with Hungarian President Tamas Sulyok at Budapest's Buda Castle.
In remarks during his meeting with Sulyok, Xi said Beijing is ready to raise ties with Budapest to a higher level, according to China’s state-run Xinhua News Agency. He also said the two countries’ friendship does not target any third party.
Xi’s stop in Hungary is the third and final stop on his first European tour in five years. He also visited France and Serbia.
During his first stop in Paris, French President Emmanuel Macron and EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen pressed Xi to ensure fair trade with Europe and use his influence on Russia to end the 2-year-old war in Ukraine.
In Budapest, Xi is scheduled to meet with Hungary Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has strengthened his country’s political relations with China since he came into power in 2010.
Hungary has become an important investment and trade partner for China at a time when other European Union countries have started distancing themselves from the East Asian country.
China and Hungary are expected to sign 16 to 18 new cooperation agreements, including a potential large-scale infrastructure project within China's Belt and Road project, Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said.
Beijing has invested billions in Hungary and sees it as an important gateway to the 27-member EU. Xi has said he wants Hungary to promote the development of China-EU relations when it assumes the rotating EU presidency in July.
Hungary hosts several Chinese electric vehicle battery plants. China is also financing a major high-speed rail project linking the capitals of Hungary and Serbia.
Xi and Orban plan to announce specific agreements later Thursday, Gergely Gulyas, Orban's chief of staff, said Thursday at a news conference.
Budapest residents faced road closures and increased security on Thursday as supporters and critics of Xi gathered in the city to demonstrate.
Xi is set to leave Hungary on Friday.
Some information for this report came from The Associated Press and Reuters.
