Leaders of China and Hungary pledged Thursday in Beijing to boost their cooperation to a new level.

During his meeting with visiting Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Medgyessy, Premier Wen Jiabao said he hoped closer Sino-Hungarian ties will bring the further development of relations between China and central and eastern Europe.

China encourages the nation's companies to invest in Hungary while welcoming Hungarian enterprises to explore the Chinese market and participate in development initiatives in West China, said Wen.

According to a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, Wen told the Hungarian guests China will continue to expand imports from the European country.

Official statistics indicate bilateral trade registered nearly US$1.7 billion last year, with China's exports taking up the vast majority.

Wen's suggestions received positive response from Medgyessy, who described China as his country's "most important partner in Asia in both political and economic aspects."

Medgyessy said Hungary is looking forward to setting up long-term comprehensive cooperation with China and to further expanding ties in areas such as politics, trade and education.

Medgyessy arrived in Beijing to start a four-day visit to China on Wednesday. Earlier yesterday, Medgyessy also told President Hu Jintao in a separate meeting that his government values its ties with China.

Hu expressed his appreciation for the Hungarian government's understanding and support of China's stance on Taiwan and Tibet issues.

He said China respects Hungary's choice of its development road in line with its domestic situation, and the country's efforts to join the European integration process.

Medgyessy, hailing China's increasingly important role in international arenas, expressed his conviction that the visit will help Hungary to acquaint itself more with China and lay a solid basis for the two nations' long-term and friendly cooperation.

(China Daily August 29, 2003)