BUDAPEST, June 18 (Xinhua) -- The 2026 China Brand Fair (Central and Eastern Europe) opened in Budapest on Thursday, bringing together Chinese and regional enterprises to explore new business opportunities and deepen economic cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries.
Addressing the opening ceremony, Judit Zolnay, state secretary at Hungary's Ministry of Economy and Energy, said lasting economic cooperation is built on trust, predictability and reliable partnerships. She reaffirmed Hungary's commitment to providing an open and stable environment for global investors, positioning the country as a key meeting point between East and West.
Zolnay said the next phase of Hungarian-Chinese economic relations should build on past achievements by focusing on high-value-added cooperation, closer institutional ties and greater mutual benefits.
Chinese Ambassador to Hungary Gong Tao said Chinese enterprises investing in Hungary have contributed to the country's industrial upgrading and technological innovation while advancing their own development.
"We hope entrepreneurs will leverage this exhibition to unlock business opportunities, deepen mutual trust, and contribute to a new chapter of cooperation between China and Central and Eastern Europe," Gong said.
Wang Deyang, deputy director of the Foreign Trade Development Bureau under China's Ministry of Commerce, noted that bilateral trade between China and Hungary increased by 28.3 percent year-on-year in 2025.
The three-day exhibition covers 10,000 square meters and features cutting-edge products and technologies in sectors including agricultural and forestry machinery, energy storage equipment, electronics and building materials.
This year's event places special emphasis on promoting Hungarian exports to China. Dedicated business matchmaking activities have been arranged to help Hungarian and other CEE enterprises gain easier access to the vast Chinese market.
More than 7,000 professional buyers from CEE countries are expected to attend the fair. ■