China’s European Bridgehead? The Chinese Economic Presence in Hungary

Authors: Andrea Éltető, Tamás Peragovics, Magdolna Sass, Ágnes Szunomár

China’s European Bridgehead? The Chinese Economic Presence in Hungary, Budapest: Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Budapest (2024)

Abstract

While the EU-China relationships are fraught with controversies, the Hungarian government has for many years been strengthening cooperation with the East Asian power. Several new investments have been realised or announced, large infrastructure projects are planned, in May 2024 the Chinese president visited Budapest and in July 2024, the Hungarian prime minister reciprocated the visit.
This paper unpacks the highly intertwined and interrelated political, economic, and environmental aspects and challenges of this friendship – as the leaders of the two countries often label it.