China and ‘good friend’ Hungary shore up policing and security ties

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Chinese Public Security Minister Wang Xiaohong (third from left) meets Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban (third from right) at the government headquarters in Budapest, Hungary, on Friday. Photo: EPA-EFE/Hungarian PM’s Press Office

Published: 10:00pm, 18 Feb 2024

China and Hungary have pledged to deepen collaboration and cooperation in policing and security, signing a series of agreements on improving cooperation in the areas.

In a meeting with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in Budapest on Friday, Chinese Public Security Minister Wang Xiaohong said the two countries should also “deepen mutual political trust … and strengthen communication and collaboration in international and regional affairs”.

According to a Chinese statement on Sunday, Wang told Orban that Hungary was “a good friend and companion who has stood the test of time”.

“It is hoped that the two sides will deepen cooperation in areas such as counter-terrorism, combating transnational crime, the security of Belt and Road [Initiative projects] and law enforcement capacity-building, and turn law enforcement and security cooperation into a new highlight of bilateral relations,” Wang said while in the Hungarian capital for a bilateral law enforcement conference.

The Budapest Times quoted Bertalan Havasi, the prime minister’s press chief, as saying Orban told Wang that ties between Hungary and China were based on respect, “an otherwise dwindling commodity in international diplomacy”.

The two sides also stressed the importance of security and stability as a basis for the development of economic and trade ties, Havasi said.