BUDAPEST — Visiting Vice-Premier Liu Yandong met with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in Budapest on June 21.

Liu said that the main purpose of her visit was to attend the opening ceremony of the third 16+1 Health Ministerial Forum.

The forum has been very successful, and will provide new opportunities for health cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries in the future, she added.

China is willing to work closely with the Hungarian side to ensure that the summit of China and CEE countries later this year achieve complete success, and that “16+1 cooperation” becomes a new highlight for China and Europe to strengthen strategic link and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, Liu said.

Liu said that since the establishment of diplomatic relations, China and Hungary always respect and support each other, while the political mutual trust has been deepening.

President Xi Jinping and the Hungarian prime minister announced to elevate bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership, marking the Sino-Hungarian relations entering into a new historical stage, she said, adding that both countries have been sticking to the road of development in line with their own national conditions.

The two sides should strengthen cooperation in the fields of education, science and technology, culture, healthcare, think tanks, media, youth and sports, to push forward the comprehensive strategic partnership, Liu said.

China has decided to increase the number of Silk Road scholarships for Hungary this year, she added.

Orban said that the people of Hungary and China cherish each other’s natural affection, and bilateral relation is currently at the best period in history.

He was pleased to elevate bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership with President Xi during his recent visit to China.

Hungary attaches great importance to China, and hopes to learn from China’s governing experience and development concept, and enhance the level of pragmatic cooperation in the fields of infrastructure, trade, education, health and tourism within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, said the PM.

He added that Hungary is willing to work closely with China to ensure a successful summit of China and CEE countries later this year.