![Darko Vojinovic FILE - Chinese President Xi Jinping, left, reviews an honor guard with his Serbian counterpart Aleksandar Vucic during a welcome ceremony at the Serbia Palace in Belgrade, Serbia, Wednesday, May 8, 2024. Most countries in the European Union are making efforts to “de-risk” their economies from perceived threats posed by China. But Hungary and Serbia have gone in the other direction. They are courting major Chinese investments in the belief that the world’s second-largest economy is essential for Europe’s future. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic, File)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/23f881df394945e3bae16bda8507fb7c/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x)
FILE - Chinese President Xi Jinping, left, reviews an honor guard with his Serbian counterpart Aleksandar Vucic during a welcome ceremony at the Serbia Palace in Belgrade, Serbia, Wednesday, May 8, 2024. Most countries in the European Union are making efforts to “de-risk” their economies from perceived threats posed by China. But Hungary and Serbia have gone in the other direction. They are courting major Chinese investments in the belief that the world’s second-largest economy is essential for Europe’s future. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic, File)
![Szilard Koszticsak FILE - Chinese President Xi Jinping, left, speaks during his joint press conference with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban following their talks at the PM's office, the former Carmelite Monastery, in Budapest, Hungary, Thursday, May 9 2024. Most countries in the European Union are making efforts to “de-risk” their economies from perceived threats posed by China. But Hungary and Serbia have gone in the other direction. They are courting major Chinese investments in the belief that the world’s second-largest economy is essential for Europe’s future. (Szilard Koszticsak/MTI via AP)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/b9d977888cc6467c8804455cd949aeed/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x)
FILE - Chinese President Xi Jinping, left, speaks during his joint press conference with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban following their talks at the PM's office, the former Carmelite Monastery, in Budapest, Hungary, Thursday, May 9 2024. Most countries in the European Union are making efforts to “de-risk” their economies from perceived threats posed by China. But Hungary and Serbia have gone in the other direction. They are courting major Chinese investments in the belief that the world’s second-largest economy is essential for Europe’s future. (Szilard Koszticsak/MTI via AP)
![Denes Erdos FILE - Tourists stand under Chinese and Hungarian national flags placed on the Elisabeth Bridge in Budapest, Hungary, Wednesday, May 8, 2024. Most countries in the European Union are making efforts to “de-risk” their economies from perceived threats posed by China. But Hungary and Serbia have gone in the other direction. They are courting major Chinese investments in the belief that the world’s second-largest economy is essential for Europe’s future. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos, File)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/37140cbbd04b409993ae15aed482b53a/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x)
FILE - Tourists stand under Chinese and Hungarian national flags placed on the Elisabeth Bridge in Budapest, Hungary, Wednesday, May 8, 2024. Most countries in the European Union are making efforts to “de-risk” their economies from perceived threats posed by China. But Hungary and Serbia have gone in the other direction. They are courting major Chinese investments in the belief that the world’s second-largest economy is essential for Europe’s future. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos, File)
![Darko Vojinovic FILE - Chinese President Xi Jinping looks on as documents are exchanged after the signing of an agreement at the Serbia Palace, in Belgrade, Serbia, Wednesday, May 8, 2024. Most countries in the European Union are making efforts to “de-risk” their economies from perceived threats posed by China. But Hungary and Serbia have gone in the other direction. They are courting major Chinese investments in the belief that the world’s second-largest economy is essential for Europe’s future. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic, File)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/33f2ccb8eaff4c6b875d8fe3b4f48307/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x)
FILE - Chinese President Xi Jinping looks on as documents are exchanged after the signing of an agreement at the Serbia Palace, in Belgrade, Serbia, Wednesday, May 8, 2024. Most countries in the European Union are making efforts to “de-risk” their economies from perceived threats posed by China. But Hungary and Serbia have gone in the other direction. They are courting major Chinese investments in the belief that the world’s second-largest economy is essential for Europe’s future. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic, File)
![Darko Vojinovic FILE - Chinese President Xi Jinping, left, shakes hands with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic at the Serbia Palace, in Belgrade, Serbia, Wednesday, May 8, 2024. Most countries in the European Union are making efforts to “de-risk” their economies from perceived threats posed by China. But Hungary and Serbia have gone in the other direction. They are courting major Chinese investments in the belief that the world’s second-largest economy is essential for Europe’s future. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic, File)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/7edfe309586c477597a8a3cd7396055f/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x)
FILE - Chinese President Xi Jinping, left, shakes hands with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic at the Serbia Palace, in Belgrade, Serbia, Wednesday, May 8, 2024. Most countries in the European Union are making efforts to “de-risk” their economies from perceived threats posed by China. But Hungary and Serbia have gone in the other direction. They are courting major Chinese investments in the belief that the world’s second-largest economy is essential for Europe’s future. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic, File)
![Darko Bandic FILE - Chinese President Xi Jinping, centre left, and his Serbian counterpart Aleksandar Vucic, center right, greet the crowd as they arrive at the Serbia Palace in Belgrade, Serbia, Wednesday, May 8, 2024. Most countries in the European Union are making efforts to “de-risk” their economies from perceived threats posed by China. But Hungary and Serbia have gone in the other direction. They are courting major Chinese investments in the belief that the world’s second-largest economy is essential for Europe’s future. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic, File)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/30e81bf950d54d07a0376853cf166eea/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x)
FILE - Chinese President Xi Jinping, centre left, and his Serbian counterpart Aleksandar Vucic, center right, greet the crowd as they arrive at the Serbia Palace in Belgrade, Serbia, Wednesday, May 8, 2024. Most countries in the European Union are making efforts to “de-risk” their economies from perceived threats posed by China. But Hungary and Serbia have gone in the other direction. They are courting major Chinese investments in the belief that the world’s second-largest economy is essential for Europe’s future. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic, File)
![Szilard Koszticsak FILE - Chinese President Xi Jinping, left, listens during his joint press conference with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban following their talks at the PM's office, the former Carmelite Monastery, in Budapest, Hungary, Thursday, May 9 2024. Most countries in the European Union are making efforts to “de-risk” their economies from perceived threats posed by China. But Hungary and Serbia have gone in the other direction. They are courting major Chinese investments in the belief that the world’s second-largest economy is essential for Europe’s future. (Szilard Koszticsak/MTI via AP, File)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/c0b44c96d66c49589c2dbfed890582da/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x)
FILE - Chinese President Xi Jinping, left, listens during his joint press conference with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban following their talks at the PM's office, the former Carmelite Monastery, in Budapest, Hungary, Thursday, May 9 2024. Most countries in the European Union are making efforts to “de-risk” their economies from perceived threats posed by China. But Hungary and Serbia have gone in the other direction. They are courting major Chinese investments in the belief that the world’s second-largest economy is essential for Europe’s future. (Szilard Koszticsak/MTI via AP, File)
![Szilard Koszticsak FILE - Chinese President Xi Jinping speaks during his joint press conference with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban following their talks at the PM's office, the former Carmelite Monastery, in Budapest, Hungary, Thursday, May 9 2024. Most countries in the European Union are making efforts to “de-risk” their economies from perceived threats posed by China. But Hungary and Serbia have gone in the other direction. They are courting major Chinese investments in the belief that the world’s second-largest economy is essential for Europe’s future. (Szilard Koszticsak/MTI via AP, File)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/cfd2ada0e6e44777ad29f34372669bc9/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x)
FILE - Chinese President Xi Jinping speaks during his joint press conference with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban following their talks at the PM's office, the former Carmelite Monastery, in Budapest, Hungary, Thursday, May 9 2024. Most countries in the European Union are making efforts to “de-risk” their economies from perceived threats posed by China. But Hungary and Serbia have gone in the other direction. They are courting major Chinese investments in the belief that the world’s second-largest economy is essential for Europe’s future. (Szilard Koszticsak/MTI via AP, File)