Hungary does not want NATO to become anti-China bloc: FM

A ceremonial hoisting of the flag of Hungary is held to mark the 175th anniversary of Hungary's 1848 revolution and freedom fight, at the Kossuth Square in front of the parliament building in Budapest, Hungary, on March 15, 2023. (Photo by Attila Volgyi/Xinhua)

Szijjarto also tackled China's peace plan for Ukraine, which he believed could be a suitable starting point for international negotiations.

BUDAPEST, April 5 (Xinhua) -- The government of Hungary does not want the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to become an anti-China bloc, Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said on Wednesday at the close of a NATO foreign ministers' meeting in Brussels.

Instead of rivalry, mutually beneficial cooperation is needed, he said.

According to Szijjarto, the relationship between NATO and China should not be described as military in nature.

"We don't want NATO to become an anti-China bloc. We don't see the meaning of rivalry, we don't see the logic of it, and we don't see what good could come out of it," he said.

Instead of rivalry, Hungary's government is interested in mutually beneficial cooperation, which he said was not only possible but also necessary, especially in the context of the automotive revolution.

A Geely's Geometry C electric car is seen on display before the signing ceremony in Budapest, Hungary, on Nov. 4, 2022. Chinese automaker Geely Auto Group has entered the European Union (EU) market by signing an agreement with Hungarian car importer Grand Automotive Central Europe (GACE). (Photo by Attila Volgyi/Xinhua)

He recalled the example of European car manufacturers, who have become "completely dependent on South Korean and Chinese electric vehicle batteries".

"All those who are calling for the separation of the Chinese and European economies risk giving a huge blow to the European economy," he said.

Without the Sino-European cooperation, there is no new European automotive industry and no successful European environmental protection either, he warned.

Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto speaks during a ceremony in Debrecen, Hungary, on Sept. 5, 2022. Chinese battery producer Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (CATL) signed a real estate deal with the city of Debrecen in Hungary, marking the official launch of its second European plant. (Photo by Attila Volgyi/Xinhua)

Szijjarto also tackled China's peace plan for Ukraine, which he believed could be a suitable starting point for international negotiations. "We want peace talks to start as soon as possible, because the sooner there is a ceasefire, the more lives we can save in Ukraine," he said.