Xi Congratulates Baka on Assuming Hungarian Presidency

Chinese President Xi Jinping has sent a congratulatory message to Andras Baka upon his inauguration as Hungary’s new president, reaffirming Beijing’s commitment to deepening bilateral ties as Budapest undergoes a historic political transition. The message, delivered on August 19, came as Baka officially took office following his election by the Hungarian parliament a week earlier, according to Xinhua.

A Message of Continuity

In his message, Xi noted that Hungary was among the first countries to recognize the People’s Republic of China and highlighted 77 years of diplomatic relations between the two nations. He emphasized that both sides have maintained relations based on “mutual respect, equality, mutual benefit and win-win cooperation,” and expressed readiness to work with Baka to deepen political trust and practical cooperation while advancing the countries’ “all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership for the new era.”

The wording carries particular diplomatic weight. That elevated partnership designation was established during Xi’s state visit to Budapest in May 2024, when relations between China and the then-Orbán government were arguably at their closest point. The unusually high-level designation placed Hungary among Beijing’s closest political partners in Europe, as Daily News Hungary noted. A CCTV video report covered the congratulatory message.

Hungary’s Political Transition

Baka’s inauguration marks the culmination of a dramatic political shift in Hungary. The 73-year-old former Supreme Court chief was elected as the country’s 8th president on August 11, receiving 140 votes in a secret parliamentary ballot, with 6 against. He was the sole candidate, nominated by the ruling Tisza party, which holds the two-thirds parliamentary majority needed to elect the president without opposition support, as Xinhua reported.

The election followed the removal of former President Tamas Sulyok through the 17th amendment to Hungary’s Fundamental Law, a process initiated by Prime Minister Peter Magyar’s government after the Tisza Party’s landslide election victory in April ended Viktor Orbán’s 16-year rule. Sulyok signed the amendment despite expressing serious objections, and his term expired on July 20, with parliamentary speaker Agnes Forsthoffer serving as acting president in the interim.

A Symbolic Choice

Baka’s election carries deep symbolic significance in Hungarian politics. He was removed from his position as Supreme Court president in 2011 by the Orbán government, which used its parliamentary supermajority to change the constitution and rename the court. The European Court of Human Rights later ruled in the 2014 case Baka v. Hungary that his dismissal was unlawful, violating his rights to a fair trial and freedom of expression, as Al Jazeera reported.

In his inaugural address, Baka signaled a break with the past, stating that “the authority of a democratic institution does not stem from its operating without conflict, but from its ability to remain true to its mission even in situations of conflict.” He also emphasized that “the president should not consider themselves an extension of the parliamentary majority or the government in power, and should not remain silent when fundamental issues of constitutional functioning are at stake,” according to Telex.

Baka has also indicated he wants to help restore Hungary’s deteriorated relations with its international allies, suggesting a shift toward closer EU alignment. His first speech made clear that he believes Hungary’s place remains in Europe.

Implications for China-Hungary Relations

Xi’s congratulatory message can be read as more than routine diplomatic protocol. Beijing is signaling continuity and emphasizing the exceptional partnership built during the Orbán years, even as the new Hungarian government under PM Magyar is still defining how much of that relationship it intends to preserve.

The economic foundations of Hungary-China relations remain substantial. By late 2024, Chinese companies had pledged around EUR 9 billion in investments in Hungary, including CATL’s EUR 7.3 billion battery factory in Debrecen and BYD’s first European passenger-car manufacturing plant in Szeged. However, the new government has signaled a more cautious approach, seeking to maintain commercially beneficial relations while bringing Hungarian policy closer to common EU rules and positions.

Recent developments have added complexity. Former Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto, a key architect of Orbán’s China policy, resigned his parliamentary mandate in July to join Chinese EV giant BYD, prompting a government review of the company’s agreements in Hungary.

What’s Next

As Baka settles into the presidency, his approach to foreign policy and constitutional governance will be closely watched both in Budapest and Beijing. His emphasis on restoring international relationships and upholding constitutional checks and balances suggests a more measured approach to governance than his predecessors. For China-Hungary relations, the economic foundations remain strong, but the political rules governing the relationship may be entering a new phase as Hungary seeks closer cooperation with the European Union.