China–Hungary relations

China–Hungary relations
Map indicating locations of China and Hungary

China
Hungary
Diplomatic mission
Chinese Embassy, BudapestHungarian Embassy, Beijing

The People's Republic of China and Hungary (at the time, the Hungarian People's Republic) established diplomatic relations in October 1949.

The PRC has an embassy in Budapest. Hungary has an embassy in Beijing and consulates-general in Chongqing, Guangzhou, Hong Kong and Shanghai. In addition, Hungary also has an unofficial diplomatic outpost for the Taiwan-related interests in the form of the Hungarian Trade Office in Taipei while the ROC has the Taipei Representative Office in Hungary in Budapest.

Relations have been generally positive, especially under Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán. In 2017, the two countries declared their relationship a comprehensive strategic partnership.

History

In 1869, Austria-Hungary established diplomatic relations with the Qing dynasty.[1]

Embassy of China in Budapest
Embassy of Hungary in Beijing

Austro-Hungarian concession of Tianjin

This paragraph is an excerpt from Austro-Hungarian concession of Tianjin.[edit]

The Austro-Hungarian concession of Tianjin (Chinese: 天津奥租界; pinyin: Tiānjīn ào zūjiè, German: österreichisch-ungarische Konzession, Hungarian: Osztrák–magyar tiencsini koncesszió) was a territory (concession) in the Chinese city of Tientsin occupied by Austria-Hungary between 1902 and 1920. It had been obtained by Austria-Hungary after the signing of the Boxer Protocol at the conclusion of the conflict between China and the Alliance of Eight Nations, which had sent an international expeditionary force to quell the Boxer Rebellion of 1901. Although the Austro-Hungarian occupation corps had been present from the previous year, the concession formally began on 27 December 1902. It is the shortest lived concession, having existed for only 14 years.

Cold War

On October 3, 1949, the Hungarian People's Republic recognized the People's Republic of China. On October 6, the two countries established diplomatic relations.[2] During the Korean War, the Hungarian People's Republic sent medical teams to Pyongyang to treat wounded North Korean and Chinese People's Volunteer Army troops.[3] At the height of the Hungarian Revolution of 1956, Chinese premier Zhou Enlai encouraged Soviet premier Nikita Khrushchev to intervene against the Hungarian revolutionaries.[4]

In 1989, Hungarian government, which was undergoing political reform, reacted strongly to the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests and massacre, condeming the Chinese government's actions. Demonstrations were held outside the Chinese embassy. Hungary was the only country in Europe to have substantially reduced relations with China in the aftermath of the events.[5]

21st century

During the government of Viktor Orbán, Hungary strengthened its ties with China while other European Union member states considered "de-risking" their relations with China.[6] In 2017, China and Hungary declared their relationship a comprehensive strategic partnership.[7]: 161  Since at least 2017, Hungarian police and other governmental institutions have used Chinese surveillance equipment from Dahua Technology and Hikvision.[8]

In 2021, it was revealed that Fudan University was planning a campus in Budapest. This led to pushback in the country and to protests, leading the Hungarian government to delay the plans and promise that it will hold a referendum on the issue.[9] On 22 May 2022, the Constitutional Court ruled the referendum as unconstitutional as it concerns an international agreement. Hungarian officials also promised to resume the project after the victory of the ruling Fidesz during the 2022 parliamentary elections.[9]

Hungary has formally blocked the European Union from formally criticizing China's actions in Hong Kong in both 2020 and 2021.[10][7]: 162 

On 20 February 2023, Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Politburo member and top diplomat Wang Yi visited Budapest to meet with prime minister Orbán. During the meeting, Hungarian foreign minister Péter Szijjártó stated that "[w]hen we have faced crises in recent years, Hungary has always come out of them stronger than it went into them, but Hungarian-Chinese cooperation has played an absolutely indispensable role in this".[10] On 27 February 2023, Orbán backed the peace plan released by Wang Yi about ending the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[11]

CCP general secretary Xi Jinping visited Hungary in May 2024 and met with Orbán.[12] During the visit, the two countries entered into an "all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership for a new era" as well as 18 other agreements and memoranda of understanding.[12][13]

In October 2025, it was reported that Chinese state-backed advanced persistent threat group Mustang Panda had targeted Hungarian and other European diplomats as part of a coordinated cyber-espionage campaign.[14]

Economic relations

Under Viktor Orbán, Hungary joined the Belt and Road Initiative in 2015. In the same year, it was the largest recipient of Chinese outbound direct investment with around $571 million.[15] As of at least 2024, Hungary is one of the strongest European supporters of the BRI.[16] Between 2022 and 2024, Hungary received nearly a quarter of Chinese foreign direct investment to Europe.[17] Hungarian foreign minister Szijjártó stated in 2023 that Hungarian-Chinese trade was over $10 billion.[10]

Hungary hosts the largest supply center of Huawei outside of China.[10] In 2022, Chinese battery company CATL agreed to invest $7.5 billion to build a factory in Debrecen.[10] Concerns were raised among locals about environmental and health effects of the factory.[18] Hungary also has several Chinese electric vehicle battery plants.[12] In 2023, Chinese electric vehicle company BYD Auto chose Szeged as its first large factory in Europe.[17] In March 2025, the European Commission opened a probe into whether the BYD Auto plant had received unfair state subsidies from China.[19] In July 2026, Hungarian prime minister Péter Magyar announced that it would investigate the deal with BYD Auto after the former foreign minister Péter Szijjártó accepted a job with BYD shortly after resigning.[20]

Healthcare

Hungary was the first EU member to approve the use of the COVID-19 vaccine developed by China's Sinopharm.[7]: 169 

Taiwan

Hungary follows the one China principle. It recognizes the People's Republic of China as the sole government of China and Taiwan as an integral part of China's territory.[21] In 1990, Hungary and Taiwan established representative offices in Tapei and Budapest, respectively.[22][23]

Public opinion

A survey published in 2026 by the Pew Research Center found that 53% of Hungarians had a favorable view of China, while 40% had an unfavorable view.[24]

Resident diplomatic missions

See also

References

  1. ↑ Gotteland, Mathieu (June 2023). "Austro-Hungarian Informal Imperialism in China, 1869–1917". Journal of Austrian Studies. 56 (2): 31–40. doi:10.1353/oas.2023.0022. ISSN 2327-1809.
  2. ↑ "Political and diplomatic relations - Embassy of Hungary". peking.mfa.gov.hu. Archived from the original on 2026-02-09. Retrieved 2026-04-10.
  3. ↑ Woods, John (2020-01-07). "Did you know that there is a Hungarian hospital in North Korea?". dailynewshungary.com. Retrieved 2026-04-10.
  4. ↑ Sullivan, Lawrence R. (2016-08-03). Historical Dictionary of the People's Republic of China. Bloomsbury Publishing USA. p. 304. ISBN 979-8-216-23987-1.
  5. ↑ Columbus, F. A. Central and Eastern Europe in Transition. Nova Publishers, 1998. p. 22-23. ISBN 978-1-56072-596-1.
  6. ↑ McNicholas, Aaron (2023-07-23). "China's Foothold in Europe". The Wire China. Retrieved 2026-04-13.
  7. 1 2 3 Arežina, Sanja (2023). "China's Relations with Central and Eastern European Countries in a Multipolar World Order 2.0". China and Eurasian Powers in a Multipolar World Order 2.0: Security, Diplomacy, Economy and Cyberspace. Mher Sahakyan. New York: Routledge. pp. 160–173. doi:10.4324/9781003352587-16. ISBN 978-1-003-35258-7. OCLC 1353290533.
  8. ↑ Zubor, Zalan (2023-08-15). "Hungary continues to use risky Chinese security systems that are already blacklisted in several countries". Atlatszo. Retrieved 2026-04-12.
  9. 1 2 Keller-Alant, Akos; Standish, Reid (8 June 2022). "What's Next For China's Fudan University Campus In Hungary?". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Archived from the original on 14 March 2023. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 Grove, Thomas; Hinshaw, Drew (20 February 2023). "Hungary Extends Warm Welcome to Top Chinese Diplomat". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on 14 March 2023. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
  11. ↑ PREUSSEN, WILHELMINE (27 February 2023). "Orbán backs China's Ukraine peace plan". Politico Europe. Archived from the original on 16 March 2023. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
  12. 1 2 3 Szandelszky, Bela (2024-05-09). "Hungary and China sign strategic cooperation agreement during visit by Chinese President Xi". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 2024-05-10. Retrieved 2024-05-14.
  13. ↑ Seiwert, Eva; Soong, Claus (2024-10-15). "What's in a name? A rough guide to China's elaborate labeling of bilateral relations in Europe". Mercator Institute for China Studies. Retrieved 2025-11-29.
  14. ↑ Gatlan, Sergiu. "Windows zero-day actively exploited to spy on European diplomats". BleepingComputer. Retrieved 2025-11-03.
  15. ↑ Jennings, Ralph (22 February 2023). "China pitches belt and road to 'illiberal' Hungary as Beijing's links with Moscow sow suspicion in Europe". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on 14 March 2023. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
  16. ↑ Vasovic, Aleksander; Sito-sucic, Daria (5 May 2024). "China's Xi Jinping to Visit Serbia on Anniversary of 1999 NATO Bombing". Reuters. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
  17. 1 2 Dunai, Marton; White, Edward; Irwin-Hunt, Alex (17 November 2024). "Orbán turns to China to boost recession-hit economy". Financial Times. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
  18. ↑ Rutai, Lili (2026-04-07). "China's Massive Investment in Hungary Is Lucrative but Toxic". New Lines Magazine. Retrieved 2026-04-12.
  19. ↑ Foy, Henry; Dunai, Marton; Bounds, Andy (2025-03-20). "EU probes BYD plant in Hungary over unfair Chinese subsidies". Financial Times. Retrieved 2025-03-21.
  20. ↑ Spike, Justin (2026-07-20). "Hungary investigates deal with China's BYD carmaker after ex-foreign minister takes job there". Associated Press. Retrieved 2026-07-22.
  21. ↑ "Five One-Chinas: The contest to define Taiwan". Lowy Institute. Retrieved 2025-11-15.
  22. ↑ "Taipei Representative Office, Budapest, Hungary". Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of China (Taiwan). Retrieved 12 September 2025.
  23. ↑ "Hungarian Trade Office in Taipei". Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary. Retrieved 12 September 2025.
  24. ↑ Silver, Laura; Schulman, Jonathan; Clancy, Laura; Miner, William (2026-07-15). "Views of China and Xi Are Improving Globally". Pew Research Center. Retrieved 2026-07-15.
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