On April 13, Hungary's newly elected prime minister suddenly changed tone, bringing relief to Chinese enterprises!
Media reports indicate that recently, Hungary's newly elected prime minister, Molnár, has made several key statements in succession: Hungary will continue purchasing Russian oil; Hungary will maintain and strengthen economic and trade relations with China; Budapest's previous refusal to provide Ukraine with a 9-billion-euro EU loan may have been justified.
Molnár’s remarks are no coincidence. Analysis of his statements reveals a centrist approach—neither completely breaking with the EU nor sacrificing practical interests. Compared to his predecessor Orbán’s confrontational style toward Brussels, Molnár clearly adopts a more flexible strategy.
During Orbán’s era, Hungary repeatedly cast veto votes at EU meetings and openly defied Brussels. In contrast, while Molnár refused to provide Ukraine with the 9-billion-euro loan, he did not provoke the EU excessively. This “dancing between two sides” stance allows Hungary to safeguard its economic interests while avoiding direct confrontation with the EU.
Molnár’s evident shift in attitude sends an important signal: his policy toward China will not make a sudden U-turn, and Hungary’s doors remain open to Chinese enterprises.
Why are Chinese companies so closely watching changes in Hungary’s political landscape? This stems from recent Sino-Hungarian economic and trade cooperation. Over the past few years, Hungary has become a major destination for Chinese investments in Europe. These projects involve investments worth billions of euros, including extensive factory construction, equipment procurement, and workforce deployment. If the new government shifts course, these substantial financial commitments would face significant risks.
However, in my view, whether Molnár can withstand pressure and turn his verbal pledges into concrete actions still requires time to verify. With too many uncertainties currently present, the only thing Chinese entities can do is focus on strengthening their internal capabilities.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1862409313504256/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author personally.