国内英语新闻:Hungarian PM optimistic about future ties with China

BUDAPEST, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) -- Hungarian Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai has expressed optimism in having a better future in ties with China upon the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.

    Bajnai described China as a reliable international partner in a recent interview with Xinhua, saying that Hungary was one of the first to establish diplomatic ties with the fledgling country.

    Having visited China in November 2008, he said he has been deeply impressed with the country's dynamic development.

    "The high-standard professional exchange of views with Chinese negotiation partners in the central and local governments and withbusiness leaders have already yielded concrete results in the Hungarian-Chinese economic relations, to the benefit of both countries," said the prime minister.

    He welcomed the forthcoming visit of Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping, saying the visit will offer an opportunity for the two sides to talk about "further significant advances in bilateral economic cooperation."

    The past decade has witnessed a 17-fold rise in trade between Hungary and China, he said, adding that there had also been extensive growth in their cultural, educational, scientific and tourism cooperation.

    Noting that China is one of Hungary's most significant Asian trade partners and Hungary one of China's most prominent in central and eastern Europe, Bajnai said further improvement of the relations with China has been a priority of the Hungarian foreign policy.

    "Mutual investment and technological cooperation are important not only because they are profitable for businesses of both countries, but also because in hard economic times they create jobs, " he said.

    He noted that China has been doing a splendid job in facing up to the challenges of the world economic depression. Hungary also did everything in its power to alleviate its impact, he said.

    Both countries should "take full advantage of their cooperation in continuing to combat the crisis," he said.

    Referring to the 60 years China has gone through, Bajnai said China's development, especially in the past three decades, has set an example for the world.

    "My personal opinion is that China's greatest achievement has been its huge economic advances, which made it possible to significantly raise the living standards of the 1.3 billion Chinese people," he said.