Former Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has stepped down as a member of parliament to take up a senior executive position at Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer BYD.
Szijjarto, who served as Hungary’s top diplomat for 12 years under Prime Minister Viktor Orban, will join the Chinese automotive giant in a global role focused on external relations and the development of new business opportunities.
The former foreign minister is widely regarded as one of Orban’s closest political allies and has also maintained close ties with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic. During his time in government, Szijjarto played a key role in promoting Chinese and Russian economic interests in Central and Eastern Europe.
Confirming his move to the private sector, Szijjarto said he had accepted an international position with one of the world’s leading companies. “I have received an extremely prestigious invitation to take an international position at one of the leading companies in the world economy. BYD is one of the biggest success stories in the automotive industry in the last twenty years,” he said.
While serving as foreign minister, Szijjarto worked alongside Orban’s government and Vucic’s administration to expand Chinese investment in the region. One of the most significant projects linked to this cooperation is the Budapest-Belgrade railway, financed by China as part of the “One Belt, One Road” initiative.
