Premier Li Keqiang called on China and Hungary to make the Hungary-Serbia high-speed railway a model project in the 16+1 framework cooperation and bilateral cooperation between China and Hungary, during a meeting with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Nov 25 in Suzhou, Jiangsu province.

The Premier stressed that the railway is a representative project for China-Hungary, China-CEE countries cooperation, and the two countries should speed up the preparation work, laying a solid foundation for the railway construction.

Bilateral relation between China and Hungary is stepping into the best time ever, and the two countries are expanding the cooperation fields, and have achieved fruitful results in infrastructure construction, finance, agriculture and tourism sectors, Premier Li said.

Hungary has been promoting its “open for the East” strategy, and along with China played a leading role in the meeting of China and Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries, said the Premier.

China is willing to join hands with Hungary to deepen political trust, link development strategy, expand economic and trade investment, enhance cultural communication and promote the bilateral relation to a new stage, he said.

Orban said he appreciated China’s help in Hungary’s economic and social development, saying China is Hungary’s good friend.

He said Hungary supports the development of China-CEE and China-Europe bilateral relations, and is glad to advance the China-Hungary tie, and push the construction of the high-speed railway to start as soon as possible.