Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Thursday that China highly appreciates Hungary's friendly policy toward the country, which has made important contributions to promoting cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European countries and maintaining the overall situation of China-EU relations.

President Xi made the remarks during a phone conversation with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

Xi called on the two countries to take the Hungary-Serbia railway and other major cooperative projects as the lead, deepen practical cooperation in various fields, jointly address risks and challenges, and promote the new development of China-Hungary comprehensive strategic partnership to better benefit the two peoples.

Xi said China is willing to continue strengthening COVID-19 vaccine cooperation with Hungary, and will firmly keep its promise of making its vaccines global public goods.

Read more: Vaccine cooperation can lift China-Hungary anti-COVID-19 partnership

Hungary is the first EU member state to buy and authorize the use of Chinese vaccines. The first shipment of China's Sinopharm vaccine arrived in Budapest on February 16. Both Hungarian President Janos Ader and Orban have been inoculated with the Sinopharm vaccine.

China has provided timely support to Hungary, which has played an important role in controlling the pandemic, Orban said, adding that Hungary is very grateful and hopes to continue to deepen cooperation with China on vaccines.

Hungary attaches great importance to its relations with China and is pleased that the trade between the two countries has grown against the trend despite the pandemic, said Orban.

Hungary welcomes more Chinese enterprises to invest in the country and will provide a good business environment for them, he promised.

Hungary is willing to work with China to actively promote the construction of the Hungary-Serbia railway, and will continue to play an active role in promoting cooperation between Central and Eastern European countries and China, Orban added.