Leaders of China and
Hungary pledged Thursday in Beijing to boost their cooperation to a
new level.
During his meeting with
visiting Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Medgyessy, Premier Wen
Jiabao said he hoped closer Sino-Hungarian
ties will bring the further development of relations between China
and central and eastern Europe.
China encourages the
nation's companies to invest in Hungary while welcoming Hungarian
enterprises to explore the Chinese market and participate in
development initiatives in West China, said Wen.
According to a Chinese
Foreign Ministry spokesman, Wen told the Hungarian guests China
will continue to expand imports from the European
country.
Official statistics
indicate bilateral trade registered nearly US$1.7 billion last
year, with China's exports taking up the vast majority.
Wen's suggestions
received positive response from Medgyessy, who described China as
his country's "most important partner in Asia in both political and
economic aspects."
Medgyessy said Hungary
is looking forward to setting up long-term comprehensive
cooperation with China and to further expanding ties in areas such
as politics, trade and education.
Medgyessy arrived in
Beijing to start a four-day visit to China on Wednesday. Earlier
yesterday, Medgyessy also told President Hu Jintao in a separate
meeting that his government values its ties with China.
Hu expressed his
appreciation for the Hungarian government's understanding and
support of China's stance on Taiwan and Tibet issues.
He said China respects
Hungary's choice of its development road in line with its domestic
situation, and the country's efforts to join the European
integration process.
Medgyessy, hailing
China's increasingly important role in international arenas,
expressed his conviction that the visit will help Hungary to
acquaint itself more with China and lay a solid basis for the two
nations' long-term and friendly cooperation.
(China Daily August 29,
2003)