Hungary and China mutually regard each other as strategic ally, said Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. While remaining part of the western European federal system Hungary will need to consistently implement a strategy of opening towards the east, Orbán added on Tuesday after meeting Chinese Vice-Premier Li Keqiang. The two countries signed a series of investment and co-operative agreements on Tuesday, in the area of telecommunications, agriculture, infrastructure and finance. Orbán said besides a one billion euro credit line agreement (between China Development Bank and Hungarian Development Bank MFB) China has also opened sources worth several billions of euros for Hungary.
Fidesz policy towards China was different a few years ago in opposition. In 2008 Zoltán Balogh, MP of Fidesz and at that time chairman of the Human Rights Committee of the Hungarian National Assembly stood up for the Tibetan people's human rights at a joint press-conference with Amnesty International and the Tibet Support Group. Mr Balogh – who is Minister of State for Social Inclusion of the Ministry of Public Administration and Justice today -   said that opposition parties Fidesz, the Christian Democratic People's Party (KDNP), the Hungarian Democratic Forum (MDF), as well as SZDSZ, the former liberal member of the cabinet of PM Ferenc Gyurcsány had signed a common proposition for a resolution calling on the People's Republic of China to respect basic human rights, freedom of speech, right to information and the freedom to choose one's religious beliefs Tibet and the PRC as well. The proposition urges Beijing to start talks with Tibetans regarding the future status of the territory. After weeks of multi-party consultations, governing socialists refused to sign the proposal. Balogh, at that time emphasized that he hoped the National Assembly would, with the help of the votes of the parties signing the initial proposition, adopt a resolution. Showing his personal sympathy, Mr Balog raised the Tibetan flag.
On 19 May 2008, the Hungarian National Assembly adopted the resolution, with the socialist parliamentary group being the only one voting against it. This also marked the first situation in which the minority socialist government of PM Ferenc Gyurcsány failed to get enough external support for the required majority.
Source: portfolio.hu, fidesz.hu

Last Updated on Wednesday, 02 May 2012 07:52