By Zhang Wenyu

This year marks the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Hungary, ushering in a new era of cooperation. Ningbo, home of the China-Central and Eastern European Countries Business Cooperation Demonstration Zone, plays a crucial role in this partnership. On this significant occasion, Ningbo Daily interviewed Szilard Bolla, Consul General of Hungary in Shanghai.

Reflecting on the past, Mr. Bolla stated the cooperation between Ningbo and Hungary has yielded fruitful results. "In recent years, the trade and investment volume between Ningbo, Zhejiang, and Hungary has been steadily increasing," said Mr. Bolla. He noted that when Hungarians hear mention of Ningbo, China-CEEC cooperation immediately comes to mind.

The total trade volume between Ningbo and Hungary exceeded $500 million last year, nearly double that of five years ago. China and Hungary have recently established an all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership for the new era. Looking ahead, Mr. Bolla believes that China and Hungary can further expand cooperation in various areas, including culture and education. "I hope to see more Ningbo companies showing interest in Hungary's investment environment. Additionally, the direct flights from Ningbo to Budapest serve as an excellent promotion for Hungary. Now, Hungarians know much more about Ningbo," he said.

In recent years, Hungary has been focusing on developing its electric mobility industry, attracting the interest of Ningbo's automobile parts manufacturers looking to invest and expand overseas. "In today's world, having investment-friendly governments and policies is very important," said Mr. Bolla. He emphasized Hungary's stable political environment, favorable investment policies, and promising economic prospects, positioning it as a key economy in Central and Eastern Europe.

Hungary's central location in Europe, with its well-developed network of roads, railways, and airfreight, makes it an important transportation and logistics hub. Moreover, the Hungarian Investment Promotion Agency offers one-stop services to assist Chinese investors in establishing their presence in the Hungarian market.