Prime Minister Viktor Orban of Hungary continues to court authoritarian partners, this time meeting with China’s leader, Xi Jinping in Beijing on Monday. This meeting comes on the heels of talks with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia in Moscow last week.
The official Xinhua news agency announced Mr. Orban’s visit to Beijing, stating that Mr. Xi would hold an “in-depth discussion with him on issues of mutual interest.” The leaders last met two months ago when Mr. Xi visited Budapest as part of a push to restore Chinese influence in Europe.
During the meeting at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, Chinese state television provided no further details on the discussions between Mr. Xi and Mr. Orban. This meeting gives the two leaders, who share similar philosophies on independence and initiative, an opportunity to urge the European Union to distance itself from Washington.
Mr. Orban, who has been an outlier in the EU on issues like support for Ukraine, now holds the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union, giving him a higher profile in European affairs. Western European leaders have distanced themselves from Mr. Orban, emphasizing that he does not speak for the EU.
The Hungarian leader’s visit to China comes ahead of a NATO summit in Washington, where President Biden and other Western leaders are expected to offer more support to Ukraine in its conflict with Russia. Mr. Orban described his trip to Beijing as part of a mission for “peace” for Ukraine, following his visits to Moscow and Kyiv.
Both Mr. Orban and Mr. Xi have promoted vague frameworks for peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia while maintaining strong ties with Moscow. The talks between the Hungarian and Chinese leaders will likely underscore their shared antipathy towards Western security alliances and human rights criticisms.
Mr. Orban, who was once critical of China’s ruling Communist Party, has now become a firm partner, elevating China-Hungary relations to an “all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership” in May. This deepening bond suggests a strong and enduring relationship between the two countries.
As Mr. Orban continues to strengthen ties with authoritarian leaders, his actions are likely to face scrutiny from Western European leaders who have long distanced themselves from his policies.
