Chinese President Hu Jintao met with Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Medgyessy in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Thursday.

President Hu said that China and Hungary cherished their traditional friendship, and Hungary is one of the earliest countries to forge diplomatic ties with China.

In recent years, Hu noted, the two nations' political mutual trust has been increasing, and their trade and economic cooperation has been fruitful.

Hungary has become China's important cooperation partner in central and eastern Europe, he said.

The Chinese president expressed his appreciation for the Hungarian government's understanding and support of China's stance on the Taiwan and Tibet issues, thanking Hungary for backing China's reunification cause.

He said China respects Hungary's choice of development road in line with its domestic situation, and the country's efforts to join the European integration process.

President Hu pledged China's readiness to work with Hungary, in accordance with the principles of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, and mutual non-interference in each other's internal affairs, to promote the sound stable and all-round development of bilateral relations.

Prime Minister Medgyessy said that China has made admirable achievements in various fields and is playing an increasingly important role in the international arena. Hungary values its relations with China, and it will keep to the one-China policy and expand its cooperation with China in the political, economic and trade spheres.

The Hungarian prime minister expressed his conviction that the visit will help Hungary to acquaint itself more about China and lay a solid basis for the two countries' long-term and friendly cooperation.
 
(Xinhua News Agency August 28, 2003)