Hungarian defense forces are willing to open their biological
laboratory for their Chinese colleagues during the 2008 Beijing
Olympic Games in case there's a biological weapon attack, said
Hungarian Defense Minister Imre Szekeres recently.
"We can help identify dangerous biological weapons and find ways
to protect people. It (the lab) served the Athens Olympics" too,
said Szekeres, during his official visit to China in August, just
days before Hungarian Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany's visit to
the country from September 2 to 5.
"We have put forward the proposal to the Beijing Organizing
Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG)," the minister
said.
Szekeres and his Chinese counterpart Cao Gangchuan signed an agreement on defense
cooperation, specifying the fields and forms of bilateral military
exchanges, on August 22.
"The agreement is of great importance to Hungary because we
believe military exchanges will lay a good foundation for our
cultural and economic communication," Szekeres said.
The two countries have agreed to exchange military officers for
training and technology cooperation, Szekeres said. China and
Hungary both have contributed personnel to UN peacekeeping
missions.
"If some Hungarian officers become familiar with Chinese troops
and military theory, and vice versa, we will be able to conduct
further cooperation."
A batch of Chinese officers will reach Hungary for training this
autumn, he said. And a Hungarian army art troupe is expected to
visit Beijing soon.
Apart from Beijing, Szekeres also visited Chengdu and Kunming in
Southwest China to learn about military work in those areas.
"Chinese soldiers are excellent. During an anti-terror shooting
practise, I noticed they were quite strong. They cooperated
smoothly and shot accurately."
On European Union's ban on arms sales to China, Szekeres said
Hungary has opposed the stance since 2004. But "it will eventually
be decided by all the member countries of the EU".
The minister first visited China in 1995. "I know what China was
like 12 years ago, and I want to congratulate China on its rapid
development."
"The largest Chinese community in Central and Eastern Europe is
in Hungary. We can offer a bridge connecting China with the EU and
the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)."
"We are looking forward to expanding our traditional
friendship," the minister said.
(China Daily September 4, 2007)