China and Hungary signed six cooperation documents in Budapest Wednesday to strengthen their economic ties and to boost bilateral trade.

Chinese President Hu Jintao, who arrived in Budapest Thursday morning, and his Hungarian counterpart Madl Frenc witnessed the signing of the documents on education, culture, the opening of new air routes between Beijing and Budapest and on the sales of bus parts produced in Hungary.

China and Hungary will jointly open a bilingual school in Budapest, teaching both Chinese and Hungarian, according to an agreement signed by ministries of education of both countries.

Another agreement, signed by the China Hainan Airlines and the Hungary airlines, has set that from August 2, the China Hainan Airlines will fly three flights each week between Beijing and Budapest.

Hu and Madl signed a joint statement themselves after they held an hour-long talks, saying both nations will establish a relationship of "friendly and cooperative partnership".

President Madl described Hu's state visit to Hungary, the first in 10 years, as an "important event" in bilateral relations.

Despite their differences, both countries have the common wish to develop "a new type of cooperative ties," he said.

The Chinese president said the relationship between China and Hungary, which established full diplomatic relations 55 years ago, has entered a new stage.

Hu proposed that the two countries increase top-level exchanges, explore new ways of economic cooperation and step up cooperation in culture, education, environmental protection, transportation, science and technology.

"China welcomes Hungarian firms to participate in China's development of its western areas and the rejuvenation of the old industrial belts," Hu told Madl. "Hungarian companies are also welcome in the construction of projects for the Beijing 2008 Olympiad and the World Expo' 2010 in Shanghai."

On international issues, the Hungarian president said China has been an active force in maintaining world peace and stability as a permanent member of the UN Security Council. And Hu responded that China and Hungary can have better coordination on many international arenas like the UN and other international bodies.

In the joint statement, Hungary reiterated its one-China principle, saying it will not make any official contact with Taiwan.

The two sides jointly denounced terrorism in any form, and agreed to enhance cooperation in the areas of justice, public security, customs and financial supervision.

Hungary is the second leg of Hu's four-nation tour following Poland. He will also visit Romania and Uzbekistan before attending a summit meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, slated to begin in the Uzbek capital of Tashkent on June 17.

(Xinhua News Agency June 11, 2004)