Chinese President Xi Jinping recently met with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, encouraging world powers to facilitate direct dialogue between Russia and Ukraine. Orbán's trip to China came as part of his peace initiative following visits to Russia and Ukraine, where he discussed the possibility of a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict in the region, despite facing criticism from Kyiv and EU officials for not acting on behalf of the entire European bloc.

Orbán's warm relations with Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin have been highlighted, with Orbán referring to his visit to China as "Peace mission 3.0" in a social media post. During his meeting with Xi, Orbán praised China's role as a stabilizing force globally and commended its constructive peace initiatives, including a six-point peace plan issued with Brazil. Xi, while emphasizing China's neutrality in the conflict, called on major powers to create a conducive environment for dialogue between Russia and Ukraine, stressing the importance of projecting positive energy for a ceasefire to occur.

Orbán's stance on Western military aid to Ukraine and his opposition to EU efforts to assist Kyiv and impose sanctions on Moscow have strained relations with Hungary's EU and NATO allies. This has led to frustration among Western allies, who view Russia's actions in Ukraine as a breach of international law. Orbán's visit to China, where ties with Hungary were upgraded to an "all-weather, comprehensive strategic partnership," further demonstrates the deepening political and economic relations between the two countries, with China making investments in Hungarian electric vehicle facilities.