Hungary’s PM-elect Magyar sends warm overture to China, vows fair play for firms
Peter Magyar pledges reforms to restore transparency and fiscal stability as Hungary shifts from Viktor Orban’s investment model
Hungary’s prime minister-elect Peter Magyar has extended a warm overture to China, which he referred to as “one of the world’s most powerful countries”, saying he would like to visit Beijing and that Chinese leaders are welcome to visit Budapest.
“We are absolutely, absolutely open [to discussions with Chinese leaders] and China is one of the world’s most important, largest and most powerful countries. It is in our interest, and I believe it is in the interest of both countries,” Magyar said in response to a question from the South China Morning Post at a press conference on Monday.
He also signalled openness to Chinese investment, but set clear conditions, saying foreign firms must comply with Hungarian and European Union environmental, health and occupational safety rules, and must deliver tangible benefits to the Hungarian economy.
“We can indeed review these investments, but not with the aim of blocking them or preventing them from happening,” Magyar said.
“We want to position Hungarian companies as partners at BYD, CATL [Contemporary Amperex Technology Ltd] and other major investors, and I believe we will be able to cooperate.”
Magyar used the Chinese-sponsored railroad between Budapest and Belgrade as an example of something not in Hungary’s interests, saying it was built with Chinese money, technology and workers, primarily for Chinese benefit, and funded by “an enormous sum of money that is sorely missing from Hungary’s own railway development”.