Hungary to intensify ties, discuss human rights with China, says deputy PM/ENG

2011. július 1. /MTI/TibetPress

Hungary can pursue a dialogue about China's human rights record if it fosters close ties with that country, Hungarian Deputy Prime Minister Zsolt Semjen told public television M1 on Friday morning.

In an interview, Semjen summed up recent foreign policy events, including Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's visit to Hungary and the unveiling of Ronald Reagan's statue in Budapest.

Commitment to human rights without any compromise is a priority, especially for Hungary. Nevertheless, global political realities and Hungary's national interests should also be taken into account, he said.

"It is in Hungary's best interest to do business with China. Those who fail to do that disappear from the stage of the world economy," said Semjen, adding that thousands of jobs in Hungary are at stake.

He said that no one should expect more from Hungary than from the United States, France and Britain in terms of human rights in China.

"The Hungarian-Chinese dialogue on human rights can only yield results if the two countries maintain well-established relations, based on mutual interests," he said.

Semjen noted that during his visit to Beijing last August he had insisted on attending the holy mass of the Catholic church loyal to Rome. Furthermore, he raised the Catholic church's situation and the Tibetan issue during his talks with the Chinese prime minister.

He emphasised that China's territorial integrity should in any case be respected, adding that granting autonomy to Tibet seemed to be a viable option.

Human rights can be enforced and economic and political interests can be taken into account simultaneously, he said. "This is what US President Ronald Reagan did: he defeated the Soviet Union, yet kept the dialogue running with Gorbachev," Semjen said.