Viktor Orban, the Prime Minister of Hungary, recently made headlines for his high-profile meetings with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Orban’s visit to China comes at a time when Hungary is seeking to strengthen its economic and political ties with the Asian superpower.
Orban’s meeting with Xi in Beijing was seen as a significant step towards deepening the relationship between Hungary and China. During the meeting, the two leaders discussed a wide range of issues, including trade, investment, and cooperation in areas such as infrastructure development and technology transfer.
Orban’s visit to China comes on the heels of his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. The two leaders discussed a number of issues, including energy cooperation, defense cooperation, and regional security. Orban has long been seen as a close ally of Putin and has been criticized by Western leaders for his friendly relations with the Russian leader.
Orban’s meetings with both Putin and Xi highlight Hungary’s efforts to diversify its international partnerships and reduce its dependence on the European Union. Orban has been a vocal critic of the EU’s immigration policies and has pushed for closer ties with countries outside of the EU, such as Russia and China.
Orban’s visit to China also comes at a time when Hungary is seeking to attract more Chinese investment and boost trade between the two countries. China is Hungary’s largest trading partner outside of the EU, and Orban has made it a priority to increase economic cooperation between the two nations.
Overall, Orban’s meetings with Putin and Xi signal a shift in Hungary’s foreign policy towards a more balanced approach that seeks to strengthen ties with a diverse range of international partners. While Orban’s close ties with Putin have raised concerns in the West, his efforts to deepen relations with China could help Hungary diversify its economic and political partnerships in the years to come.