Senior CPC official arrives in Budapest for visit

Liu Yunshan (L), a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, meets with Kyriakos Mitsotakis, leader of the main opposition New Democracy (ND) party in Athens, Greece, Oct. 5, 2016. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin)

Senior Communist Party of China (CPC) official Liu Yunshan arrived in Budapest on Wednesday, starting an official good-will visit to Hungary.

During his two-day stay in Hungary, Liu, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, is scheduled to meet Hungarian leaders to exchange views on closer bilateral ties.

Liu will also attend a dialogue participated by members and officials of the CPC and the parties from Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries.

China and Hungary have seen sound development of bilateral ties in years. The Hungary-Serbia railway project becomes a symbolic one between China and Hungary as well as a landmark project for China-Europe cooperation.

China attaches great importance to cooperation with the CEE countries, particularly on China's Belt and Road initiative.

Hungary is the first among the European nations to join Belt and Road initiative -- a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along ancient trade routes.

Liu reached Budapest after wrapping up his visit to Greece.

Before leaving for Budapest on Wednesday, Liu met with Kyriakos Mitsotakis, leader of the main opposition New Democracy (ND) party in Greece.

Liu said China and Greece should take more measures to expand cultural and people-to-people exchanges and accelerate cooperation on areas like cultural industry, tourism and shipbuilding.

The CPC is ready to deepen exchanges and cooperation with the ND party and make common efforts to lift China-Greece comprehensive strategic partnership to a new level, said Liu.

When the ND served as the ruling party, Greece decided to establish comprehensive strategic partnership with China and carry out cooperation on Piraeus port project, which laid strategic basis for the development of Greece-China relations, said Mitsotakis.

The ND party cherishes friendly exchanges and cooperation with the CPC and would strive to promote Greece-China friendship, said Mitsotakis.