Photo:VCG

Chinese President Xi Jinping said China is ready to continue strengthening vaccine cooperation with Hungary, and firmly honors its promise of making vaccines a global public good, in a telephone conversation with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Thursday.

According to the Xinhua News Agency, Xi said that since the outbreak of COVID-19, China and Hungary have supported each other and carried out good cooperation on epidemic prevention and control, resumption of work and production, and achieved important results. In particular, both countries have carried out close cooperation on vaccines, which shows a high level of mutual political trust and makes bilateral relations more resilient and dynamic, Xi noted.

China highly appreciates Hungary's firm adherence to its friendly China policy, and its significant contribution to promoting cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European countries (CEEC), and safeguarding the interests of China and Europe relations, Xi stressed.

Xi said that China is willing to continue strategic communication with Hungary, consolidate mutual political trust, strengthen cooperation in various areas such as on the construction of Budapest-Belgrade Railway, jointly cope with risks and challenges, and push for a new development of the China-Hungary comprehensive strategic partnership to better benefit the peoples of the two countries.

Citing the recent China-CEEC Summit which made important plans and guidance for the cooperation mechanism, Xi said China is willing to work with Hungary and other participants to break new ground and push forward China-CEEC cooperation.

Orban expressed gratitude for China's support on combating the COVID-19 epidemic, and noted Hungary is ready to work with China to strengthen vaccine cooperation.

Orban said Hungary attaches great importance to its relations with China and is glad to see that bilateral trade has grown against the trend despite the impact of the pandemic. Hungary welcomes more Chinese enterprises to invest in Hungary and will provide a sound business environment to the enterprises, said Orban, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

Orban stressed that Hungary will work with China to advance the construction of the Budapest-Belgrade railway and play an active role in promoting cooperation between China and CEECs.