Mate Pesti, the Hungarian Ambassador to China (right) and Wu Hongbo, special representative of the Chinese government for European Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs pose for a picture at the festive gala dinner in Beijing on October 29, 2024. Photo: Courtesy of the Hungarian Embassy in China

The Hungarian Embassy in China held a festive gala dinner in Beijing on October 29, to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relations between China and Hungary.

"The 75 years of friendship between our countries are a testament to the resilience of our bond and our shared aspirations for the future. Through the years, our partnership has shown that even during times of global upheaval, [and] economic, political, or social turmoil, Hungary and China can always count on each other, and remain steadfast in their commitment to cooperation," Mate Pesti, the Hungarian Ambassador to China said in his opening remarks.

Hungary was among the first countries in Europe to recognize and establish diplomatic ties with the People's Republic of China. China and Hungary hold similar positions on many international and regional issues. Hungary also opposes EU tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles. 

In May, Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Hungary. During his visit, the two countries elevated bilateral relations to an all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership for the new era. 

Invited guests at the event included Wu Hongbo, special representative of the Chinese government for European Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and other diplomatic, economic, industrial, and media representatives.

A copy of the Little Princess statue, the original of which is a landmark site in the Hungarian capital of Budapest, was displayed at the event, attracting guests to take pictures with it. 

Hungarian artists also performed traditional Hungarian music and dances for the audience.

"We cherish the friendship between our nations, and look forward to writing the next chapter of our partnership - a chapter defined by even deeper cooperation, broader engagement, and shared success," said the ambassador.

In 2023, Hungary attracted a total of 13 billion euros (about $13.86 billion) in foreign direct investment, about 8 billion euros of which came from China.