In a rare meeting with Prime Minister Viktor Orban, China offered to support Hungary, a longstanding strategic partner, on matters of public security, beyond trade and investment relations, at a time when NATO is finding it difficult to spread its network throughout Europe.
Public Security Minister Wang Xiaohong told Orban last week that China hopes to strengthen law enforcement and security ties with Hungary as the two countries celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations, according to the official Xinhua news agency.
Wang expressed his hope that these initiatives in areas like fighting terrorism and transnational crimes would serve as “a new highlight of bilateral relations” while on a visit to Budapest.
Under President Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road Initiative, they would also cover the development of law enforcement and security capabilities which seek to establish infrastructure and trade ties between China and the rest of the world.
Xinhua reported on Sunday that Wang also met with Interior Minister Sandor Pinter and signed agreements on security and law enforcement cooperation, though it did not provide any specifics. China’s security guarantee coincides with Hungary, Russia’s ally, trying under Orban to lessen its reliance on Western nations over the last ten years, most recently by bucking pressure to accept NATO’s expansion throughout Europe.
The only member of NATO that has not approved Sweden’s application to join the alliance is Hungary. NATO has faced criticism from China, particularly since the alliance declared last year that Beijing’s “ambitions and coercive policies” had compromised its security, interests, and values.
