Photo: US Ambassador to Hungary David Pressman
The US ambassador to Budapest sharply criticised the Hungarian government on Tuesday for its close political and business ties with China, which are often “conditional, and the price for that is often the loss of sovereignty,” Reuters reports.
In a speech to US businessmen who have invested in Hungary at an event organised by the American Chamber of Commerce, Ambassador David Pressman criticised the Hungarian government for doing business with China on the basis of opaque and "corrupt" contracts.
He also criticized Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's Nationalist government for allowing Chinese workers into Hungary and for security cooperation between the two countries that allows the presence of Chinese police in Hungary.
Pressman noted that the United States is also doing business with China, but “transparently, based on clear rules and with due regard to the security interests of our allies.”
Relations between Budapest and Washington have deteriorated due to Hungary's slowness in ratifying Sweden's entry into NATO — which was finally approved by Budapest in February — and also because of Orbán's warm ties with Moscow, despite the war in Ukraine.
"We all know that Hungary cannot have it both ways for long. Receive the benefits of being in the community of democratic countries, but not be limited by this. Exercise your rights, but not always fulfill your duties,”— Pressman said.
Pressman's criticism comes a month after Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Hungary during the Chinese leader's first visit to Europe in five years, during which he called the relationship between China and Hungary an “all-weather strategic partnership.” ;.
Hungary under Orbán has become an important trade and investment partner for China, unlike some other EU countries that are considering reducing their dependence on the world's second-largest economy.
Prepared by: Sergei Daga