2 October 2015, Budapest
Good morning, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Allow me to welcome the Chairman of the Bank of China here, in Budapest, most respectfully. I also wish to welcome the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China, and to extend my warmest greetings to the guests who came with the Honourable Chairman’s delegation.
If I were to open our gathering here today in a single sentence, I would have chosen the sentence: Welcome to the future. You may perhaps remember all the doubts, incomprehension and uncertainty which surrounded the launch of the policy which those who spoke before me simply referred to as the policy of “eastward opening”. If it is true that if God seeks to punish someone, he takes his mind away, the reverse may also be true: if God wishes to reward someone, he gives him intelligence, or in other words, the power of foresight. And at this point in time, I must say that I have to praise the foresight of the Hungarian political elite retroactive to many long decades, including the communist times. As even in the previous regime, Hungarian leaders somehow comprehended that there is, of course, the Soviet Union, and there is, of course, the advanced West, but there is something else at the other end of the world, a very serious power, a very strong people, an enormous economic potential, which must be noticed, which must be appreciated, and with which we must foster good relations as closely as possible. This public wisdom has formed part of the Hungarian political discourse in the past 66 years.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
If I had been compelled to sum up our gathering here today in another sentence, I would have chosen the number 66, on which I congratulate you from the bottom of my heart, because if it is true that the number 66 brings good luck according to the Chinese people, we could very much do with it. It would be good if Hungary finally had a good few years which are not characterised by trials, economic and financial crises, red sludge disasters, floods or migrant crises, but by good fortune.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
We sincerely hope that the Bank of China has brought this lucky and prosperous period to Hungary. It is a great honour for me to be here, and I am pleased that this meeting has been successfully arranged even in the midst of a migration crisis, which is proof of the fact that we have the strength to steadily carry on with the work which is much closer to our heart than crisis management, in other words, the development of Hungary. Honourable Chairman, please allow me to make a personal remark. I still vividly remember the period after the 2008-2009 financial crisis, as the electorate entrusted me in 2010 with the job of taking over the leadership of the country. There were many who had no faith whatsoever in the future of Hungary. In particular, in the light of the fact that, rather than choosing a conventional method, as the example of Greece demonstrates, rather than opting for some attractive and successful western crisis management model, we developed a custom-tailored Hungarian crisis management method. There were very few who supported us at the time. Now, when the flags are flying high here, and we shall soon hear the pop of champagne corks, and we shall congratulate one another on this splendid event, we should remember that Hungary has not always done as well as it is doing now. And in those days, there were not many who wholeheartedly supported Hungary, who had faith in Hungary, and who saw the future in Hungary. The People’s Republic of China was one of these countries. Let me remind you that when we needed international support, when we were required to prove our international financial background to the world, we could hardly have succeeded, had the leadership of China at the time, and personally the chairman of this bank, not supported us, Hungary as early as in 2010. We are grateful, and these difficult times created a foundation of trust which has led to the present day, and I sincerely hope that it will continue to lead us together on a long path. I would like to conclude that relations between our countries have been better in recent years than ever before.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I would also like to tell the Hungarian electorate that today’s opening is a much bigger event than the audience before which it is being conducted; but we could not invite the entire Hungarian people here, despite the fact that what is happening now concerns us all.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
A bank has opened another regional centre in Hungary which is one of the largest and most reliable financial institutions not only in China but in the whole world. This is a great development for Hungary and the Hungarian people.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The opening of a regional clearing centre – however perplexing or meaningless it may sound to the average Hungarian – is a decisive event of great significance for every Hungarian.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Of course, at times like this, one starts wondering what could lead a world power to entrust its most reputable bank with the establishment of a Central-European centre, and to choose Budapest as its venue. We believe that this may have happened because it is obvious even from so far away that Central-Europe will be the engine of Europe’s economic growth in the next few years. We see this as a correct assessment of the situation. We take the view that the economic growth of the Central-European countries will perceivably exceed the European Union’s average economic growth rate, and therefore – beyond mere friendship – it is also reasonable from an economic point of view to place Central-Europe on the map of a world power. On the other hand, if we take a look at the Central-European region, beyond the robust relations which exist between us and which have historical roots as I mentioned earlier, the fact that Budapest, out of all places, may host a regional centre demonstrates that they see potential in us. So it would be time for us to see more potential in ourselves, and we could then be successful.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Let us believe the Chinese. They have thousands of years of knowledge behind them, they have carefully considered their decisions. If they chose Budapest as their regional centre, there must plenty of steam, potential and future in this country, and I am certain that, together with our Chinese friends, we shall be able to explore a great deal of this.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
We have steam. I believe we are able to increase even our current economic performance. We are able to create full employment in Hungary. We are able to line up strong and innovative Hungarian small and medium-sized businesses behind large international companies, and we are able to build large Hungarian companies with international operations, of which Mol or OTP stands as proof. In other words, we are able to become Central-Europe’s growth hub. Naturally, to achieve this, we need developments, investments, reliable business partners and friends.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
We do not wish to squander the opportunity which the changing of the world has given us, and this is why we have opened towards the East. Of course, one attempts to be generous, and it is best to avoid being petty, but one does not always succeed; I shall not succeed just now myself. Yet, I would like to tell you that we, Hungarians have been mocked a great deal, in this part of Europe and also West of here, because of our Asian origin, and now I cannot resist remarking that this has become such a trendy thing, Ladies and Gentlemen, in this modern world. It is obvious that the importance of the East has increased in the world economy, and that the value of relations with the East has likewise increased. Today we are reinforcing an alliance in which Central-Europe, with Hungary in it, and China will be winners equally. Hungary may obtain access to new resources for the implementation of the developments which, if not next year – not in 2016 – but in two to three years’ time, may result in a high economic growth rate in Hungary. At the same time, China and Chinese companies may join these projects, and as a result, we may all profit from the growth of the Hungarian economy.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
We sincerely hope that, by virtue of this opening, our economic and financial relations will further consolidate, and indeed a new Silk Road may come into being between China and Hungary, and the entire Central-European region. It is in this spirit that I wish to thank the Chairman of the Bank of China for his visit to Hungary. Congratulations on the newly opened clearing centre. I wish you, the people of China and, together with you, Central-Europe, the best of luck.
Thank you for your attention.