BUDAPEST, November 26. /TASS/. Hungary’s government intends to stick to the policy of economic neutrality as it is interested in cooperating with both the West and the East and it does not consider diving the world into blocs useful, the country’s Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said.
"We hope that the East and the West will be able to cooperate in a civilized way on the basis of mutual respect and mutual benefit. This is what we call the strategy of economic neutrality," he said, addressing the ceremony opening an international trade and economic fair in Beijing, broadcast by the Hungarian М1 TV channel.
Hungary has chosen such a strategy due to its historical, economic and geographical features, Szijjarto said. "The distance between Budapest and Washington is 7,335 kilometers, while [the distance] between Budapest and Beijing is 7,340 kilometers, which puts us between [the two global economic centers]," he noted.
Hungary’s strategy of economic neutrality is in line with the Chinese One Belt and One Road initiative, the minister said, adding that Budapest is interested in expansion of ties with Beijing. "Hungary has already received notable benefit from economic cooperation with China, having become the main direction for Chinese investment in Europe. Last year around 44% of China’s European investment were directed to Hungary," the official said, adding that he considers the country "the most secure place in Europe for cooperation between the East and the West."