Deepen Friendship for Common Development: Cooperation between China and Central and Eastern Europe [antikvár]

Keynote Speech by János Martonyi Minister for Foreign Affairs of Hungary Distinguished Minister for National Economy György Matolcsy, Distinguished Vice Foreign Minister Song Tao, Your Exceiiency Ambassador Kao, Members ofthe Dipiomatic Corps, Dear Guests, Ladies and Genfiemen, On behalf of the organizers and as the head of Hungárián diplomacy, I would like to extend my most heartfelt welcome to all participants of today's event, the China-Central and Eastern Europe Symposium. Let me alsó take this opportunity to express my appreciation to our keynote speakers, Vice Foreign Minister of the People's Repubiic of China, H.E. Song Tao, Minister for National Economy and Commissioner for the Development of Hungarian-Chinese Cooperation, Mr György Matolcsy, and Senior Analyst of the Polish Institute of International Affairs, Ms Justyna Szczudlik-Tatar, for having accepted our invitation and honouring us with their presence today. The Hungárián Government declared a policy of Global Opening last year. In practice, this policy means that we will make strong efforts to further open to the world: not only towards our traditional partners in Asia, but in Africa and South America as well. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is dedicated to converting words to action, that is, turning the "Look East" policy ofthe Government into an "Act East" policy. In fact, this Symposium is yet another manifestation of this declaration, and it is in this spirit that I will visit several Southeast Asian countries later this month.