STORY: Hungary's industrial policy, future lie in electromobility: Orban
SHOOTING TIME: Dec. 21, 2024
DATELINE: Dec. 22, 2024
LENGTH: 00:01:29
LOCATION: Budapest
CATEGORY: POLITICS/ECONOMY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the press conference

STORYLINE:

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Saturday backed electromobility as a cornerstone of his country's industrial policy.
   
"For us, the defining issue of the next decade will be electromobility," Orban said, speaking at a year-end international press conference. "And it's not just about mobility but about electro, specifically," the prime minister added.
   
From Hungary's perspective, Orban said that this direction is strategic and will remain unchanged.
   
The prime minister mentioned the BYD plant that is taking shape in the southern Hungarian city of Szeged and noted that large battery factories will soon go into operation. BYD's plant will be the first operational Chinese electric car factory in Europe.
   
Orban called these projects "pivotal developments for Hungary's industrial future."
   
According to Orban, the electric vehicle (EV) dispute between the European Union (EU) and China "is a consequence of bad European policy."
   
Orban described Hungary's EU Council presidency as "successful," having tackled major issues such as the Russia-Ukraine conflict and European competitiveness.
   
The Hungarian prime minister also touched on EU-U.S. relations and the potential impact of Donald Trump's presidency on global trade and Western policies. Orban urged the EU to adapt to changing realities in migration, family values, and economic policies.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Budapest.
(XHTV)