China seeks to extend Hungary trade ties into public security, in unusual move for NATO and EU member that already hosts Chinese tech giants.
Hungary has been closer relations with China, even as the EU has pressured member states to bring their China relations into line with the interests of the bloc.
In December BYD, the world's biggest electric vehicle manufacturer, said it would construct its first European EV plant in Hungary.
The country has existing investments around EV battery manufacturing from South Korea's Samsung, China's CATL and others.
Those include a massive 100 GWh CATL battery plant in Debrecen, expected to create around 9,000 jobs, which is the largest EV battery factory in Hungary to date.
BYD has an existing electric bus manufacturing plant in the northwestern city of Komarom.
US-sanctioned Huawei Technologies has its largest logistics and manufacturing base outside of China in Hungary, in spite of EU warnings that the company poses a risk to EU security.
Orban also maintains close ties to Russia, in spite of EU and US sanctions.
Hungarian officials meanwhile refused to meet with a visiting delegation from the US over the weekend.
This Cyber News was published on www.silicon.co.uk. Publication date: Mon, 19 Feb 2024 12:43:05 +0000