Xi Jinping's visit to Hungary and Serbia strengthens Chinese-European ties

China's leader, Xi Jinping, visited Europe and secured deals in Hungary that support China's economic expansion in Europe. Hungary believes that Chinese investments are crucial for Europe's future, even as other EU countries try to reduce risks from China. Hungary and China agreed on a joint railway project and a high-speed train link during Xi's visit. This shows Hungary's focus on strengthening ties with China, despite concerns from its allies. Serbia, Hungary's neighbor, also welcomes Chinese investments and infrastructure projects. The Serbian President, Vučić, has a similar autocratic governance style to Hungary's Orbán, making both countries attractive to China for direct deals. Xi and Vučić signed an agreement to build a "shared future," making Serbia the first European country to do so with China. This reflects Xi's strategy of engaging with countries less aligned with the U.S.-led community. Some Western partners are concerned about China's growing influence in the region. The U.S. envoy for the Western Balkans warned about China's agenda in Europe. Hungary plans to deploy officers to ensure the safety of Chinese tourists and the Chinese community, but critics fear these officers could be used to control the Chinese community on behalf of China's government. Xi's visit to Europe aimed to improve China's relations with the continent. Despite no major breakthroughs, the red carpet receptions in France, Serbia, and Hungary helped improve China's image in Europe. Xi's positive statements during the visit aimed to strengthen ties between China and Europe, which have faced challenges in recent years.