Xi Jinping arrives in Budapest for state visit to Hungary

On the evening of May 8, 2024 local time, President Xi Jinping arrived in Budapest on a special plane for a state visit to Hungary at the invitation of Hungarian President Tams Sulyok and Prime Minister Viktor Orbn.

The Hungarian Air Force sent two fighter jets to escort Xi Jinping's plane after it entered the country's airspace.

Xi Jinping was warmly welcomed by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbn and his wife, Foreign Minister Pter Szijjrt, as well as other senior government officials when his special plane arrived at Budapest International Airport. The leaders of the two countries and their spouses warmly shook hands and exchanged greetings, and Prime Minister Orbn presented flowers to Professor Peng Liyuan. The honor guard lined up to salute on both sides of the red carpet. Two Hungarian children dressed in traditional costumes presented bread and salt to President Xi Jinping and his wife, welcoming the esteemed guests with traditional courtesy. Students at the Hungarian-Chinese bilingual school presented flowers to President Xi Jinping and his wife and said “Welcome to Hungary” in Chinese. Young children performed the lively traditional Hungarian dance, Csrds, to express the warmest welcome to Xi Jinping.

Xi Jinping made a written statement. He emphasized that he was delighted to pay a state visit to the beautiful country of Hungary at the gracious invitation of President Tams Sulyok and Prime Minister Viktor Orbn. China and Hungary are good friends and partners of mutual trust. In recent years, the two sides have enjoyed frequent high-level exchanges, strengthening mutual trust, fruitful results in Belt and Road cooperation, vibrant cultural and people-to-people exchanges, and close coordination and collaboration in international and regional affairs. Together, the two countries have set a fine example of building a new type of international relations characterized by mutual respect, fairness, justice and win-win cooperation. This year marks the 75th anniversary of China-Hungary diplomatic relations, providing an important opportunity for the development of bilateral relations. Xi Jinping said he looks forward to meeting with President Tams Sulyok, Prime Minister Viktor Orbn and other Hungarian leaders to jointly draft a new cooperation and development plan, aiming to advance China-Hungary relations towards a higher level. Xi expressed his belief that no matter how the international landscape changes, China and Hungary will always view and approach their bilateral relations from a broad and long-term perspective, and make vigorous and determined efforts to build a community with a shared future for humanity and to make the necessary contributions to the peace, stability, development and prosperity of the world. Xi expressed confidence that with the concerted efforts of both sides, the visit would be a complete success and pave the way for an even brighter future for China-Hungary relations.

Madam Peng Liyuan, wife of President Xi Jinping, Cai Qi, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee, Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, as well as other members of the entourage arrived on the same plane.

Chinese Ambassador to Hungary Gong Tao also welcomed the delegation at the airport.

When President Xi Jinping's motorcade drove from the airport to the hotel, hundreds of overseas Chinese living and studying in Hungary gathered in the streets to warmly welcome President Xi Jinping, waving national flags of China and Hungary and holding banners reading “Long live China”. -Hungarian Friendship” and “Warmly welcome President Xi Jinping to Hungary for a visit.”