BUDAPEST — Premier Li Keqiang held talks with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban at the National Assembly building of Hungary, on Nov 28, 2017.

Speaking of the traditional friendship and solid foundation of bilateral ties between China and Hungary, Premier Li said China views Hungary as an important partner in CEE, a good friend in the European Union, and a friend that can have close communication and coordination in international affairs.

China and Hungary lifted their relationship to comprehensive strategic partnership during Orban’s meeting with President Xi Jinping in Beijing in May.

“We are willing to further deepen ties with Hungary on the basis of mutual respect and equal treatment so as to lift the traditional friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation to a new high,” Premier Li said.

China is willing to better dovetail the Belt and Road Initiative with Hungarian development strategies, expand bilateral trade and investment scale, and enhance cooperation on key areas including infrastructure construction in the hope of promoting connectivity in the region, Premier Li said.

He said China encourages more Chinese enterprises to invest in Hungary and expects more facilitation from the Hungarian side, adding that China is willing to import more Hungarian products that are competitive on the market.

The Premier also called on the two countries to strengthen financial cooperation so as to make the country a major base for China-CEE financial cooperation.

He added China supports the two countries in expanding cooperation on tourism, civil aviation and education.

Premier Li hailed Hungary for successfully hosting the sixth meeting of heads of government of China and 16 Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC), saying that cooperation between China and CEE countries promoted cooperation between China and European countries, which is conducive to regional stability and world peace.

China would like to join hands with Hungary and the rest of CEE countries, to implement the Budapest Guidelines for the China-CEEC cooperation, inject new impetus into the 16+1 cooperation, and boost development of relations and cooperation.

Orban, for his part, said Hungary and China enjoy very good political ties and have had fruitful cooperation, which could be called a success story in Hungary’s foreign relations.

Hungary stands ready to accelerate the construction of such flagship projects as the Hungary-Serbia railway, enhance cooperation on economy and trade, finance, education and tourism, he said, adding that Hungary welcomes Chinese firms to invest in the country, Orban said.

The two leaders witnessed signing of 11 agreements covering areas of agriculture, e-commerce, finance, telecommunication, tourism and education.

They also received the Hungarian-Chinese dictionary edited and presented by Hungarian Sinologists.

Before the meeting, Orban held a grand welcoming ceremony for Premier Li at the National Assembly building of Hungary.