On the morning of October 17, 2023, President Xi Jinping met at the Great Hall of the People with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán who is in China to attend the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation.

Xi Jinping pointed out that Hungary was one of the first countries to recognize and establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China, and the traditional friendship between the two countries has a time-honored history. In recent years, China-Hungary relations have been developing at a high level. The two sides have witnessed the continuous deepening of political mutual trust, fruitful results in mutually beneficial cooperation, rich and colorful people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and sound coordination in international and regional affairs, especially in the joint fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, which have strengthened the friendship between the two countries. Xi Jinping expressed deep appreciation for Hungary's long and firm pursuit of a friendly policy toward China and active support for Belt and Road cooperation, and Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's attendance at the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation for three consecutive times. China is ready to continue to be a good friend and partner of mutual trust and win-win cooperation with Hungary, and take the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations next year as an opportunity to elevate the China-Hungary comprehensive strategic partnership to a new level and write a new chapter in China-Hungary friendly and cooperative relations.

Xi Jinping stressed that China stands ready to work with Hungary to enhance exchanges of experience with Hungary in party governance and state administration, firmly support each other's chosen development path, seek greater synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative and Hungary's "Opening to the East" policy, and share development opportunities and outcomes. The two sides should work for the completion and opening of the Budapest-Belgrade Railway on schedule, run the Central European Trade and Logistics Cooperation Zone well, increase the size of cross-border e-commerce, and expand cooperation in information technology and new energy industries. China is ready to increase the import of high-quality agricultural products from Hungary. The two sides should make good use of the platform of cultural centers established in each other's country, and encourage the teaching of the two countries' languages, so as to enable the traditional friendship between China and Hungary to be passed down from generation to generation. The cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC) serves the common interests of both China and CEEC. China is ready to work with Hungary to continue to steer China-CEEC cooperation in the right direction, enrich China-CEEC cooperation, and contribute to the steady and sustained development of China-EU relations.

Viktor Orbán said that with President Xi Jinping's personal care and support, Hungary-China relations have maintained sound development and achieved fruitful results in recent years. The investment and cooperation carried out by Chinese enterprises, including the construction of the Budapest-Belgrade Railway, have significantly promoted the economic and social development of Hungary. The Hungarian side firmly believes that the Belt and Road Initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping will bring major changes to the world, help promote world economic development, and deliver more benefits to people of all countries. The Hungarian side firmly supports and will continue to actively participate in the initiative. Under the current complex situation, Hungary is firmly committed to deepening the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries, and will continue to be China's trusted friend and partner in the European Union. Hungary opposes any decoupling and breakage of supply and industrial chains or the so-called "de-risking" practices, and stands ready to work with China to strengthen cooperation in such areas as economy, trade, investment and connectivity, and deepen people-to-people and cultural exchanges. Hungary will continue to actively promote CEEC-China cooperation and work for sound and stable development of EU-China relations.

Cai Qi and Wang Yi attended the meeting.