Relationship over many decades
China and Hungary mutually regard each other as important partners. To the former our country is a European gateway, which affects trade, as well as capital turnover and tourism relations.
We foster well-managed, active relations with the People's Republic of China. Our main objective is to to preserve and strengthen our positions on the Chinese market, to profit from the possibilities offered by the economic development of the Chinese regions, to expand cooperation in industry, trade, finance and banking, services, infrastructure and agriculture, and to develop a new image of Hungary.
Cultural relations
During the prime ministerial visit in August 2003, the Hungarian party recommended the establishment of a bilingual Chinese-Hungarian school in Budapest. The school opened in the 2004 academic year, and currently some 110 pupils study at the school. In December 2006, making use of the framework provided by the Eötvös Loránd University, the Confucius Institute opened with the main objective of promoting awareness of the Chinese language and culture in Hungary.
Bilateral trade amounts to some USD 4 billion annually.
There is interest on the part of both countries towards the other, including the state, government and market spheres. On both sides it has been stressed several times that the aim is for Hungary to become China's distribution centre for South East Europe and Central Europe. This can be promoted by the following: the Chinese community in Hungary is by far the most populous in the region; the Bank of China operates its regional centre here in Hungary; Chinese companies producing for European export are already present; the two countries are linked by a direct flight connection.
Some 3,000 companies founded in China operate in Hungary. Tourism relations have also developed dynamically since Hungary received special tourism destination status from China. More than 1,000 visas were issued in 2004, more than 7,000 in 2005 and some 5,600 in 2006. Magyar Turizmus Rt. has sent a representative to China to ensure the smooth running of tourism tasks.
The direct flight connection between Budapest and Beijing was launched on August 2, 2004, and currently operates three times a week.
