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ABU DHABI, UAE, May 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM) has announced the recipient of the inaugural PAM Global Humanitarian Personality Award at the 18th Plenary Session held in Braga, Portugal. For the first time, this prestigious recognition is bestowed upon His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, for his decades-long exemplary contributions to humanitarian efforts around the world. Each year, PAM recognises significant contributions of organisations and individuals who build bridges of communication and foster mutual understanding among the region's peoples and nations. This year, the inaugural PAM Global Humanitarian Personality Award is dedicated to those who have showcased extraordinary efforts in providing political mediation or life-saving humanitarian assistance, alleviating the suffering of people facing catastrophic events. Although this is the first time that PAM has handed the Global Humanitarian Personality Award, the organisation has recognised numerous dignitaries in the past, including H.E. Mr. Abdelmadjid Tebboune, President of Algeria, H.E. Mr. Jorge Fernando Branco de Sampaio, Former President of Portugal and H.E. Mr. Ilir Rexhep Meta, Former President of Albania. The award recognises Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed's decades-long humanitarian work as well as his recent announcement of the creation of the Zayed Humanitarian Legacy Initiative that will allocate AED 20 billion for humanitarian causes in the world's most vulnerable regions. Created on the 20th anniversary of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan's passing and on Zayed Humanitarian Day, this major initiative will aim to greatly improve the quality of life and sustainable development for vulnerable communities around the world, underscoring Sheikh Zayed's legacy of generosity and support. In addition, under Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed's leadership, the UAE has supported numerous other humanitarian causes over the years, including the global distribution of billions of doses of COVID-19 vaccines to countries in need through its "Hope Consortium" initiative. In the region, His Highness has been instrumental in supporting refugees and providing medical aid to those affected by conflict, including in Syria and Yemen, to which the UAE has donated over USD 6 billion since 2015. H.E. Hon. Enaam Mayara, President of PAM, said: "It is with great honour that we announce Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed as the first recipient of the PAM Global Humanitarian Personality Award. For decades, His Highness has been a champion of humanitarian causes worldwide, having personally been involved in numerous activities that have safeguarded peace, human life, and prosperity. His commitment to promoting global stability has set a remarkable example for leaders everywhere, raising the standard for future recipients of this prestigious recognition." Ambassador Dr Abdulsalam Al Madani, PAM Roving Ambassador for the GCC Region, said: "PAM is delighted to honour His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan with the inaugural PAM Global Humanitarian Personality Award. Throughout his outstanding tenure as leader and President of the UAE, His Highness has tirelessly contributed to various humanitarian causes, positively affecting countless lives across the world. His unwavering commitment to safeguarding lives has not only provided critical support but has also inspired a new generation of global leaders to follow his example. This award is a testament to the continuation of his and the UAE's vision for a more harmonious and prosperous world." Founded in 2005, PAM is an international organisation that brings together the national parliaments of the Mediterranean and Gulf regions. Since its foundation, the organisation has served as the legal successor of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in the Mediterranean (CSCM), established in the early 1990s. PAM's primary objective is to cultivate strong political, economic, and socio-cultural cooperation among its member states, addressing all regional challenges, and promoting peace and stability across the Mediterranean and beyond. Since its inception, PAM has distinguished itself as the preeminent institution for fostering inter-regional parliamentary diplomacy among its 31 Euro-Mediterranean, Gulf and North African member states which are represented on an equal footing through a balanced organisational bureau, alternating presidency and numerous working committees. Currently, the organisation is led by H.E. Hon. Enaam Mayara of Morocco. For more information about PAM and its initiatives, please visit www.pam.int.
BEIJING, May 14, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Five days and six nights, three countries and four cities, over 30 bilateral or multilateral activities... these figures encapsulate Chinese President Xi Jinping's recent visit to Europe, the first of its kind in five years. Chinese national flags adorned the cities, with crowds eagerly welcoming President Xi. The Global Times reporters observed these details during the visit, highlighting the anticipation in the continent to strengthen friendship and cooperation between China and the three countries of France, Serbia, and Hungary. People across the continent hoped that the visit would pave the way for stronger ties between China and the three countries, as well as with Europe as a whole. During a press conference, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi stated that President Xi's recent state visits have solidified China's relations with the three European countries and relaunched China-EU cooperation. Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, described Xi's Europe trip as a journey to carry forward friendship, enhance mutual trust, boost confidence and chart the course for the future. Personal touch French President Emmanuel Macron invited Xi to meet at the Pyrenees Mountains, a mountainous area in southern France which is close to the home of Macron's maternal grandmother. It seems that it has become a routine that the two heads of state treat each other with something beyond the courtesy of a normal state visit. In March 2019, in the French city of Nice, Macron received Xi at Villa Kerylos, a century-old house overlooking the Mediterranean. Later that year, President Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan met with Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron in the Yuyuan Garden in Shanghai. In April 2023 when the Chinese and French top leaders met for informal talks in Guangzhou, the capital of South China's Guangdong Province, they listened to the guqin (Chinese zither) melody "High Mountain and Flowing Water" at Baiyun Hall. This year, on a cold snowy spring day, the two leaders continued to write the story of "High Mountain and Flowing Water," showing the world that despite China and France being an Eastern power and a Western power respectively, they can still cooperate on bilateral, regional and world affairs. A local resident from a town near the Pyrenees is no stranger to China. He told the Global Times that his niece used to study in Shanghai and now works at a multinational company that has many businesses in China. A cyclist at the Pyrenees Mountains, who cannot speak English very well, said "friendship" when asked about the meeting between Xi and Macron at the mountain. Xi's visit coincided with the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France. Thanks to former French president general Charles de Gaulle's grand vision and his advocacy for French autonomy, he made this bold decision 60 years ago, making France the first Western country to establish official ties with China. In 2014, when Xi visited France, he went to the Charles de Gaulle Foundation. This time, the Global Times paid a visit there and had director of the foundation to recall Xi's visit 10 years ago and what prompted general de Gaulle to make the decision. "President Xi laid a wreath in honor of General de Gaulle in the office where he worked from 1947 to 1958. Gifts were exchanged," Antoine Broussy, director of the foundation, told the Global Times, and showed a guest book on which President Xi wrote: "Paying Tribute to the Great Man and Composing a New Chapter in Chinese and French History." In a showroom on the ground floor of the Charles de Gaulle Foundation, a bronze half-body statue of de Gaulle stands. He looks contemplative, apparently observing the historical trajectory of China-France relations. Steel-clad friends During his stay in Serbia, a country Xi visited eight years ago, the Chinese president presented a special gift to Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic - steel models in the shape of the Temple of Heaven in Beijing, and the Church of Saint Sava in Belgrade. The models were made from steel produced by the HBIS Smederevo steel plant, or Hesteel Serbia, a century-old factory which was invigorated through close cooperation between China and Serbia. Xi visited the plant in June 2016, months after China's Hesteel Group purchased this venture on the verge of closure and the future of its more than 5,000 employees was unsettled. Xi interacted with the workers and encouraged them to work hard to bring benefits to local residents. Factory workers presented a round plate with the silhouette of the steel plant to Xi as a gift. The visit significantly boosted the morale of all the workers, and encouraged the Chinese executive team to optimize production and management. Smiles returned to the faces of Serbian workers as they felt secure and began to "plan for the future." Hesteel Serbia now has become a major exporter in the Balkan country and a crucial taxpayer. Its success is an embodiment of the "ironclad" friendship between China and Serbia. Before his state visit this time, Xi replied to a letter written by Serbian steelworkers who shared the progress the steel plant had achieved and expressed their appreciation for Xi's care and support. When presenting the steel models to Vucic on Wednesday, Xi said we are now "steel-clad friends with even stronger ties than iron-clad friends." Now standing on the site is the China Cultural Center, for which Xi laid the foundation stone in 2016. This site has now gained a new life while retaining the sentiment of friendship. Carefully decorated with Chinese elements, the center offers courses on Chinese, calligraphy, Tai Chi, and guzheng, a traditional musical instrument. The center also holds a library which has a collection ranging from language learning materials and dictionaries, to popular novels and classics. Various cultural events are held here, and the center issues commemorative stamps with Serbian Post biannually, the Global Times learned from the center. Many locals also come to the center for classes out of interest, gain better knowledge of China and Chinese culture. Milica Milovic, the first Serbian employee at the center, told the Global Times that working at the center is really a pride as she is now part of the strong China-Serbia friendship. This ironclad friendship has become deeper and deeper through efforts of every ordinary Chinese and Serbian who are contributing to bilateral exchanges and friendliness. A East-West model Upon President Xi's arrival in Budapest, the final stop on his five-day European visit, Chinese national flags were placed next to Hungarian flags on the Elisabeth Bridge in this beautiful capital. Xi previously visited Hungary in 2009. Some things have changed, while some have not. The Danube River still flows silently and gently, witnessing the development of relations between China and Hungary. During Xi's visit this time, the two countries elevated bilateral relations to an all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership for the new era. What deeply impressed President Xi during his state visit to Hungary, he said, was a Hungarian girl who presented flowers to him when he landed in Budapest. She was the same girl who presented flowers to Xi 15 years ago. The president recollected that encounter: "You've grown up. You were only this tall back then," he said, making a gesture with his hand. The girl can speak fluent Chinese. So can many young Hungarians, who have cultivated a strong interest in China and the Chinese language as exchanges between China and Hungary have flourished over the last couple of years. In Buda Castle, the historical castle and palace complex of the Hungarian Kings, nearly half of the tourists come from China, and they have a tourist guide who can speak Chinese very well. Many Hungarians who speak fluent Chinese learned the language at the Hungarian-Chinese bilingual school in Budapest. Established in 2004, the Hungarian-Chinese bilingual school is a 12-year all-through public school that teaches in both Chinese and Hungarian. In October 2009, Xi, then Chinese vice president, visited the school during his visit to Hungary. Today, a group photo of Xi and the school's students and teachers, as well as Xi's reply letter to the students in early 2023, hangs on the wall in the school's hallway. Xin Hua, director and chair professor of the Center for European Union Studies, Shanghai International Studies University, told the Global Times that an important reason that China and Hungary can develop friendly ties is that the two countries have similar historical and cultural traditions. "Welcome home!" Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban greeted Xi at the airport. The next day, Xi was received with a military ceremony in the Lion Courtyard of Buda Castle. In an interview with Chinese media, Hungarian Prime Minister Orban explained what "home" means. "We are settled here in the West, but the origin is very important. So, we know that relatives are somewhere, they are far away. So, when somebody from the East is coming to Hungary, especially with the high civilization for several thousands of years as China, it always has a special emotional element of that meeting," Orban said.
BEIJING, May 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Chinese President Xi Jinping said on May 5 that he hopes China and France will light their way forward with the torch of history, open a brighter future in China-France relations and make new contributions to world peace, stability and development. Xi made the remarks in a written speech upon his arrival at Paris Orly airport for a state visit to France. From the "Nice Talk" and "Yuyuan Garden visit" in 2019 to the "Pine Garden meeting" in 2023, and now the just-concluded discussion in the Hautes-Pyrenees Department, the top leaders of China and France have spent many memorable moments together. Their interactions have become a fine story on everyone's lips in both countries and the international community, perfectly exemplifying the meaning of "two-way efforts," which literally means "meeting each other half way." In this article, Global Times reporters Xu Liuliu, Chen Xi, Li Yuche and Wu Jie talked with artists, experts and scholars from both China and France who shared their stories and understanding of the two countries' friendship. Amid falling snow on the picturesque mountains in the Hautes-Pyrenees Department in southwestern France on May 7, 2024, Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan were warmly received by French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron. Conducting unique interactions outside the capital cities has recently become a characteristic arrangement for the exchanges between Xi and Macron. The heartwarming scene of the two heads of state and their spouses gathering in the Hautes-Pyrenees Department inscribed a new chapter in the history of China-France exchanges, fully demonstrating the warmth, depth, and breadth of the relationship between the two countries. During Macron's visit to China in April 2023, Xi met him in Guangzhou's Pine Garden, South China's Guangdong Province, where they appreciated a performance of the guqin melody "High Mountain and Flowing Water." This time, the meeting in the beautiful mountains of southern France, with their babbling brooks, is a continuation of the good memories associated with "High Mountain and Flowing Water." During the visit, Xi pointed out that although the Chinese civilization and French civilization, one in the East and the other in the West, have different values and social systems, both are committed to inter-civilization exchanges and mutual learning. The two sides can coexist in harmony without seeking uniformity, Xi said, adding that through dialogue and cooperation, they can both make new contributions to human progress and world peace and development. Deepening bilateral cultural exchanges During the two leaders' discussion at the Elysee Palace on May 6, the two leaders gifted books to each other. Macron gave Xi rare volumes by Victor Hugo, and a copy of Linguae Sinarum Mandarinicae hieroglyphicae grammatica duplex, a Chinese language grammar book published in 1742 by French scholar and Orientalist Etienne Fourmont. President Xi smiled and said, "I have read almost all of his [Hugo's] books." He noted that his memory of reading Hugo's novel Les Miserables during his youth remains fresh in his mind. Millions of Chinese people have read Les Miserables and how Monseigneur Bienvenu influenced Jean Valjean, gaining inspiration from this great literary work. Chinese actor Liu Ye is one of them. At the age of 8 or 9, Liu read the graphic novel version of Les Miserables. He even dreamed of playing the role of Jean Valjean while in college. Now he finally realized his dream by acting in the Chinese stage play version of the work, a China-France co-production by French producer Anais Martane and Chinese artistic director Wang Keran. With the linguistic beauty of such literary works, Les Miserables shows the truth and goodness of human nature. "This is why we are still rehearing this work today, and why we stage it to commemorate the great occasion that is the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France," French director Jean Bellorini told the Global Times. At the welcoming banquet hosted by Macron on the evening on May 6, Xi underscored the significance of cross-cultural exchanges in fostering mutual respect and understanding between China and France. "The China-France relationship is special in that we appreciate each other. Representing Eastern and Western civilizations, China and France have a fine tradition of mutual appreciation and mutual attraction," Xi said. French writer and philosopher Christine Cayol, also French vice chairman of the China-France Culture Forum, attended the banquet. She echoed this opinion, noting that China and France appreciate each other's rich culture and history. Having lived in China for years, Cayol founded the Yishu 8 gallery in Beijing to foster cultural exchanges between French and Chinese artists. After being introduced to Xi by Macron, Cayol sent her book about her life in China to Xi, who encouraged her to continue to promote cultural exchanges, she told the Global Times on Thursday. Xi used the term "two-way efforts" to describe the cultural exchanges between the two countries. He pointed out that efforts should continue to be made to organize various activities during the China-France Year of Culture and Tourism, actively promote joint protection and restoration of cultural relics and the pairing of World Heritage Sites, among other cooperation efforts. The year 2024 marks the China-France Year of Culture and Tourism, and a variety of cultural exchange activities are constantly being staged in both countries. During Xi's visit to France, the two sides signed a total of 18 agreements to expand cooperation in areas such as manufacturing, green development, new energy and cultural relics protection and exhibition exchanges. Tan Ping, director of Art Exhibitions China, told the Global Times on Sunday that the company will collaborate with the Guimet Museum to hold a cultural relics exhibition featuring China's Tang Dynasty (618-907) in France as part of the signed agreement between Art Exhibitions China and the Guimet National Museum of Asian Arts in Paris. Yannick Lintz, president of the Guimet National Museum of Asian Arts in Paris, France, told the Global Times that she had been following the news of President Xi's visit to France. On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of China-France diplomatic relations, the Guimet Museum will host cultural activities related to Chinese culture throughout the year. Chinese digital artwork An Era in Jinling, which enables visitors to physically immerse themselves in the dynamic cityscape of Jinling, the ancient name of Nanjing (currently capital city of East China's Jiangshu Province), and wander in real time through the historical city from China's Song Dynasty (960-1279), will be exhibited in Paris from May 16 to 18. Ai Lin, the director of the Deji Art Museum in Nanjing, told the Global Times that building upon feedback from US audiences during an exhibition of the work in Boston in November 2023, the team has upgraded the work to better suit French audiences. Promoting mutual cultural communication has become a consensus between China and France. It has also shed light on the artistic sector, in which both classic and contemporary artists in France have established ties with China. French artist Anne-Marie Laffont, who is in her 80s, told the Global Times that she took her first teaching job in China in 2018 and was immediately charmed by traditional Chinese dance. Laffont has noticed many aesthetic similarities between French ballet and traditional Chinese dance. "China and France are both civilizations of profound indigenous cultures. Because we are different civilizations, it is very interesting to have mutual learning," Laffont emphasized. Progressing from exchanges of classic works, French creative artistic workers like Gwenael Allan are promoting cutting-edge digital art exchanges between China and France. In May, he brought his new immersive digital art exhibition to Beijing. Through projecting real footage of nature on screen while wet and fresh scents designed by Allan's team float through the air, the show calls for audiences to value the conservation of nature. He told the Global Times that he will continue launching high-tech art shows in China because the historical exchanges between the two countries are meant to be continued in the modern era. Holding the Olympic torches together In the brightly lit Portrait Room at the Elysee Palace, three Olympic torches were particularly eye-catching as they stood side by side on an off-white marble table. This was some of the gifts exchanged between the two heads of state before their meeting. Xi presented Macron with the Olympic torches of the Beijing 2008 Olympics and the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, while Macron gifted Xi an Olympic torch for the upcoming Paris Olympic Games. France is a sports power and China will send a high-level delegation to France to participate in the Paris Games, Xi said with a smile, wishing the Paris Olympic Games every success. In just over two months, the beautiful banks of the Seine will welcome the grand Paris Olympic Games. The Olympic Games are a symbol of cultural exchanges, unity and friendship. From Beijing to Paris, from the world's first "dual Olympics city" to the centennial return of the Olympics, the Olympic spirit resonates across time and space. Previously Paris hosted the Olympic Games in 1900 and 1924. Holding the Olympic torches together, China and France add luster to their exchanges through sports. After the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France, the two countries' sports sectors have maintained close contacts. Both sides have sent coaches specializing in their respective advantageous disciplines to each other's countries to train athletes. Coinciding with the 60th anniversary of the China-France diplomatic relations and the Paris Olympics, 2024 is an important year in China-France relations. For this reason, the two countries hope to make sports, especially youth athlete exchanges, the development of sports infrastructure, and sharing of sports industry experience, an integral part of bilateral relations, creating a new height in China-France cultural exchanges. Lu Shaye, Chinese Ambassador to France, said that Paris hosting the Summer Olympics again after a span of 100 years provides more possibilities and greater opportunities for China and France to strengthen sports cooperation. It is hoped that China-France sports exchanges and cooperation will deepen and solidify the Games, driving greater development in bilateral relations, according to China News Service. Sports serve as a bridge, as China and France jointly pursue the sporting goals of "faster, higher, stronger," and also embody the Olympic values of "greater unity." During his visit to France, Xi once again expressed China's support for France hosting a successful Paris Olympic Games. Xi also pointed out that as a permanent member of the UN Security Council and a responsible major country, China is ready to launch an initiative with France calling for a worldwide truce during the Games. Zhang Zheng, an associate professor at the School of Journalism and Communication of Tsinghua University, told the Global Times that the joint efforts made by China and France will serve as a model for global cultural and sports collaboration, paving the way for humanity's pursuit of higher levels of physical and spiritual development after economic progress. China is proving with practical action that the Chinese people love, embrace and promote peace. As the only city in the world to have hosted both the Summer and Winter Olympics, Beijing also demonstrates the Chinese people's passion for sportsmanship and support for the Olympic spirit, Zhang said. With the Paris Games approaching, France, as a global cultural center with a splendid civilization, has been cooperating with China in the fields of culture and sports, which will deepen mutual learning and communication among different civilizations, promote mutual understanding, and strengthen bonds among people, Zhang noted. On the evening of May 6, before the banquet of the two leaders, a rainbow appeared over the Elysee Palace, connecting the East and the West. Along the banks of the Seine, a new story of "two-way efforts" between China and France was also written into the history books.
BEIJING, May 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- President Xi Jinping left Budapest on Friday, wrapping up his fruitful three-nation Europe visit, which both Chinese and European analysts believe injects momentum into China-Europe relations as well as future multipolarity and global stability. At a farewell event held by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and his wife on Friday, Xi said China is now advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through Chinese modernization, and China's high-quality development and opening-up will provide more opportunities for Hungary. On Thursday, China and Hungary decided to elevate bilateral relations to an all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership for the new era. To enrich the new relationship, the two sides are committed to enhancing synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and Hungary's "Eastern Opening" policy, said a joint statement released after Xi's meeting with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. According to the statement, the two sides will further deepen cooperation on finance, encourage financial institutions of both sides to provide financing support and financial services for trade and investment cooperation, further tap the cooperation potential in green finance and other fields, and continue to jointly issue green Panda bonds. They will also strengthen exchanges and cooperation on land and spatial planning, expand cultural and people-to-people exchanges and cooperation, and strengthen coordination and communication on tourism policies. "In a world clouded by the threat of protectionism and economic decoupling disguised as de-risking, economic and trade cooperation needs a surrounding atmosphere of trust and mutual respect. The now elevated strategic partnership between China and Hungary can generate not only such a solid atmosphere, but also the solid ground for long-term secure investment environment," Zoltan Kiszelly, director for political analysis of the Budapest-based political think tank Szazadveg Foundation, told the Global Times. Hungary was the last leg of Xi's Europe visit, which also included France and Serbia. This is the first time in five years that Xi has visited Europe, and each stop during the trip had its own highlights and memorable moments. In Serbia, Xi was greeted by thousands of Serbians in Belgrade. President Xi and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic signed a joint statement on the building of a China-Serbia community with a shared future in the new era, making Serbia the first European country to build such a community with China. In the joint statement, the two countries decided to deepen and elevate the China-Serbia comprehensive strategic partnership. On his first day in France, President Xi said during a trilateral meeting in Paris with French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen that China-EU cooperation is "complementary and mutually beneficial" in essence. China-EU relations enjoy a strong endogenous driving force and bright prospects for development, and this relationship does not target any third party, nor should it be dependent on or dictated by any third party, Xi added. Xi and Macron also held talks at the Elysee Palace. President Xi said that the two sides should stay committed to the spirit that guided the establishment of their diplomatic ties, namely, independence, mutual understanding, long-term vision and mutual benefit, and enrich it with new features of the new era. Xi and Macron also reached agreements to strengthen cooperation among small and medium-sized enterprises. The next day, amid falling snow in the picturesque mountains in the Hautes-Pyrenees Department in southwestern France, Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan were warmly received by Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron at a mountain restaurant for a closed meeting. Experts believe that this personal touch marks a new climax in high-level exchanges that can boost mutual trust and understanding. Building trust President Xi's Europe trip was preceded by a series of visits from European leaders to China this year - German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and the prime ministers of Belgium and the Netherlands. Serbian President Vucic and Hungarian Prime Minister Orban both participated in the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation when they held bilateral talks with President Xi. Zivadin Jovanovic, president of the Belgrade Forum for a World of Equals, who served as the minister of foreign affairs of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia between 1998 and 2000, told the Global Times that President Xi's Europe visit represents continuity of the highest-level dialogue and expression of a mutual interest to reinforce the strategic Europe-China partnership and cooperation. "The visits to France, Serbia and Hungary, as well as the tripartite meeting between Xi, Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen have led to the conclusion of many new agreements for future cooperation and to the removing of unnecessary barriers," Jovanovic said. Some Chinese experts noted that the importance of China-Europe relations is rising, as is the complexity of this relationship. "There is no fundamental conflict of interests between China and Europe. For Europe, the real risk would be to do without China," Sébastien Périmony, an expert from the Schiller Institute in France, told the Global Times. Périmony added that it is obvious to any rational person that the only solution to today's problems lies in a multipolar world based on the concept of mutual development, with new agreements in place for a security architecture and win-win growth strategies for all of the world's nations.
BEIJING, May 10, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- China and Hungary decided Thursday to elevate bilateral relations to all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership in the new era during Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to this Central and Eastern European country, which experts say is a result of fruitful cooperation between the two sides and carries significance to China-Europe relations. The announcement was made after Xi held talks with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. They jointly witnessed exchange of cooperation documents and met with the press. The China-Hungary relationship is now at its best in history, Xi said earlier on Thursday when meeting with Hungarian President Tamas Sulyok at the Sandor Palace in Budapest. The bilateral relationship has stood the test of the changing international landscape and continued to grow in depth from a friendship across the continent to a friendly and cooperative partnership and then to a comprehensive strategic partnership, Xi said. Xi arrived in Budapest on Wednesday, on the last leg of his three-nation European trip. Xi previously visited Hungary 15 years ago. He was warmly welcomed by Orban and his wife at Budapest Airport upon arrival. The Hungarian Air Force sent fighter jets to escort Xi's plane after it entered the country's airspace. Ju Weiwei, deputy director of the Central and Eastern Europe Office, Institute of European Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Thursday that elevate bilateral relations to all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership in the new era is a big achievement of bilateral relations and is a result of fruitful cooperation between China and Hungary in all aspects such as infrastructure, investment and culture as well as respect for each other's core interests and the solid basis of public opinion in both countries. "This has positive significance to future China-Europe relations and cooperation between China and Central and Eastern Europe," said Ju. Both Chinese and Hungarian experts believe mutual respect and a cooperative approach with no ideological strings attached have played decisive roles in bilateral relations. This year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of China-Hungary diplomatic relations. Hungary was one of the first countries in the world to establish official relations with China. Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said in a recent interview with the Global Times that it's a great honor that the two countries celebrate the 75th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic ties with a presidential visit. He believes that this is positive feedback showing that China and Hungary are on the right track and this is very important to Hungary. Mutual respect Since the establishment of their diplomatic ties, China and Hungary have always respected each other, treated each other as equals, and pursued mutual benefit, Xi said when meeting with the Hungarian president. Szijjarto told the Global Times that mutual respect, which is currently missing in international politics, is a really strong and stable basis for the successful cooperation between China and Hungary. Over the years, China-Hungary cooperation has been developing in a steady manner. In 2015, Hungary became the first European country to join the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative. In 2017, the bilateral relationship was elevated to a comprehensive strategic partnership. The Hungary-Serbia railway that is under construction is the flagship project of the BRI in Central and Eastern Europe. On world affairs, China and Hungary often share similar stances. Despite being an EU member state and a NATO member, Hungary has remained committed to not sending any weapons to Ukraine. Levente Horvath, director of the Eurasia Center of John von Neumann University and chief advisor to the governor of the Central Bank of Hungary, told the Global Times that the relationship between Hungary and China is getting increasingly close because they think similarly about international relations. "Hungary seeks cooperation with countries based on its own national interests. It recognizes that pragmatic cooperation can bring promising prospects while confrontation and sanctions can only bring lose-lose scenarios and be exploited by those with ulterior motives," Ju told the Global Times. Bridge linking East and West In 2010, Hungary began implementing the "Opening to the East" policy, underlining the fact that the wind is blowing from the East in the world economy. In recent years, Hungary has become a major logistics hub for China-Europe trade. Hungary is also Europe's electric vehicle hub ─ Chinese EV maker BYD announced in late 2023 that it will build its first European electric vehicle production base in Hungary and the plant will produce EVs and plug-in hybrids for the Europe market. Hungary's connectivity strategy makes it a key country to connect West and East. Experts also believe that Hungary can play a facilitating role in bridging China and Europe. "Hungary is special among the EU. It does not oppose the bloc every time when it comes to China-related issues, but it has played a special role in China-Europe relations. Hungary is a partner China should seriously cooperate with," Sun Keqin, a research fellow at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, told the Global Times. On July 1, Hungary will take over the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU. Foreign Minister Szijjarto believes Hungary can use the opportunity to influence the EU's policy toward China. "We will be able to share with our European colleagues in a very credible manner how helpful, how useful and how profitable it can be to work together with China," Szijjarto told the Global Times in the interview.
BEIJING, May 10, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Hungary-China cooperation will continue to expand in the future, and the visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to Hungary will help accelerate the development of bilateral relations and EU-China relations, Gladden Pappin, President of Hungarian Institute of International Affairs, told the Global Times in an exclusive interview. Chinese President Xi is paying state visits to France, Serbia and Hungary from May 5 to 10. The visits are the Chinese president's first trip to Europe in the past nearly five years. Xi's trip is expected to enhance bilateral relations with the three countries and boost their mutually beneficial cooperation. Amid the shifting international landscape, President Xi's visit to Europe will play a crucial role in restoring normal links between West and East, Pappin told the Global Times. The visit to Hungary is particularly noteworthy given the strong ties between Budapest and Beijing, which began to deepen with the announcement of Hungary's Eastern Opening in 2010. Hungary and China recognize the importance of connectivity, and in this light Hungary has become a keystone state for connecting West and East, according to the expert. During meetings in Budapest, the key areas of focus will likely include deepening ties with Hungary and improving relations with the EU. President Xi's visit to Budapest is an indication that Hungary's strategy of connectivity stands out as distinctive and important in today's increasingly divided world, said Pappin. Since the beginning of this year, leaders and senior officials from several European countries have visited China. Pappin said that European leaders see the importance of good relations with China, even if they are sometimes reluctant to admit it. Regular trade and exchange also continue despite the rhetoric of "decoupling" and "de-risking" in some European countries. "What is important is for the reality of strong East-West connections to be reflected in high-level interactions, which serve to help the exchanges that occur at the levels of business and the economy generally," said Pappin. Pappin said that the Hungarian approach to China is part of the country's broader connectivity strategy, which advocates for pursuing mutually beneficial and strong relations with as many countries as possible. Hungary opposes the bloc formation and views these approaches as against its national interests. "Hungary's viewpoint is born of centuries of experience at the gateway of East and West, and we recognize in particular that Europe stands in need of strong connections with the rest of the world. The European economy has been built on the basis of active connections with the rest of the world, and within that context Hungary has been urging peaceful global cooperation with a special urgency," said Pappin. Both the Hungary-China and Europe-China relationships have the potential to benefit all parties, which is why Hungary has been working to strengthen both, according to the expert. China became Hungary's largest source of foreign investment and largest trading partner outside the European Union last year. Hungary signed the memorandum of understanding over China's Belt and Road Initiative in June 2015, becoming the first European country to establish a Belt and Road working group with China. Pappin also noted that Chinese investments, like the establishment of battery and electrical vehicle factory, are delivering capital and jobs to Hungarian communities. They also help drive economic growth in the country to close the gap between western Europe and central Europe. Hungary-China cooperation will continue to expand in the future, and the visit by President Xi will help accelerate bilateral cooperation, said Pappin, noting that while Hungary hopes that Europe's approach to China will improve, it will continue to promote strong ties between the two sides.
Foreign policy/International affairs
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