Chinese President Xi Jinping concluded an ¡°all-weather¡± strategic partnership agreement with Hungary on Thursday, capping off a three-nation diplomatic tour of Europe aimed at solidifying Beijing¡¯s footprint on the continent and countering growing European ¡°de-risking¡± efforts and national security-based restrictions.
¡°We are willing to take this as a new starting point to push bilateral relations and pragmatic cooperation into a golden channel and move toward a higher level,¡± Xi said in Budapest following a meeting with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
Hungary, which has become an important investment and trading partner for China, was the final stop of the Chinese leader¡¯s first European tour in five years ¡ª part of a six-day diplomatic offensive that also saw him visit France and Serbia.
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