The building of the battery plant by China’s CATL in Debrecen, in eastern Hungary, is already stimulating other Chinese investments in the country, too, Péter Szijjártó, the minister of foreign affairs and trade, said in Beijing on Monday. This is helping to boost Hungary’s competitiveness within Europe, given that Chinese investments bring the most cutting-edge technology to their new bases, Szijjártó said ahead of a working dinner with CATL CEO Robin Zeng. Moreover, investments in the electric vehicle industry ensure that Hungary remains a leader in the fight against climate change, according to a ministry statement quoting the minister. “This is something everyone who feels a responsibility for the environment can be proud of,” Szijjártó said. He noted that 14 percent of global harmful emissions are linked to public road transport, adding that all green and climate goals would remain “a naive illusion” without the transition to electric vehicles. The minister said competition for Chinese investments in Europe remained fierce. “It’s clear that besides the competitiveness of Hungary’s investment environment, the excellent political relations between Hungary and China also play a major role in us winning these investment bids over much stronger western countries…” Szijjártó said.