Hungary to strengthen ties with China by signing up to 18 agreements, including nuclear, during Xi's visit

Hungary plans to sign at least 16 agreements with China during Chinese President Xi Jinping's three-day visit starting on May 8, Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said, Bloomberg reported.

There could be as many as 18, as two are still under negotiation.

They focus on expanding the Hungarian section of China's immense Belt and Road Initiative to include further rail, road, and energy projects.

The countries will also consider the possibility of nuclear cooperation.

Xi’s delegation includes China’s Foreign, Finance, and Trade ministers.

Xi will visit Hungary after talks in France and a stop in Serbia, marking Chinese leader’s first visit to the European Union in five years.

Hungary’s stance on Russia’s invading Ukraine

Hungarian PM Viktor Orban is known for his pro-Russian and anti-Ukrainian statements.

He has called Ukraine an "unsovereign state," said the EU lacks funds to support Ukraine, and defended Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, while also calling for negotiations with Russia.

Read also: Western countries ‘one step away’ from deploying troops to Ukraine — Hungarian PM Orban

Hungary won't block the European Union's latest round of sanctions against Russia, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said in a Facebook statement on Feb. 19.

Orban claimed that "pro-war sentiment and the logic of war" are prevailing in Europe.

Getting pulled increasingly deeper into the war in Ukraine, some European countries are “one step away” from sending troops to Ukraine, Orban said on April 19, adding with a hint of displeasure that “European countries consider Russia's aggression against Ukraine as their own war.”

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