Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Friday that vaccine cooperation between China and Hungary can definitely be an upgrade on their existing partnership in fighting COVID-19.

Wang made the remarks during a phone conversation with Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto.

Wang said he was glad to hear that Hungary has approved the import of a Chinese COVID-19 vaccine, adding that China attaches great importance to the European nation's urgent desire to strengthen vaccine cooperation between the two countries.

Hungary on Friday became the first country in the European Union (EU) to approve the use of China's Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine.

Hungary's approval of the Chinese vaccine demonstrates its recognition of and trust in the safety and effectiveness of the Chinese vaccine and attests to the fine tradition of the two countries helping each other in times of difficulty, Wang said.

China will, based on the China-Hungary comprehensive strategic partnership, facilitate Chinese enterprises' export of the first batch of vaccines to Hungary, he added.

Wang said China will, as always, support bilateral cooperation in various fields, and is pleased to see more Chinese enterprises invest and develop businesses in Hungary.

China also hopes that Hungary will continue playing a constructive role in pushing forward China-Central and Eastern European Countries cooperation and relations between China and the European Union, he said.

For his part, Szijjarto said Hungary thanks China for its strong support in vaccine cooperation and hopes that China will speed up the approval process to facilitate Hungary's purchase of vaccines in China.

(Cover: Sinopharm's coronavirus vaccines are displayed at the China Service Fair, September 6, 2020. /CFP)

(With input from Xinhua)