Budapest Mayor Praises Taiwan's Democracy, Aims to Deepen Tech and City Exchange

Budapest Mayor Gergely Karácsony recently granted an exclusive interview to CNA, sharing significant insights on urban exchanges and democratic values between Taipei and Budapest. Karácsony noted that although Taiwan and Hungary are geographically distant, the two share profound commonalities in their pursuit of democracy and freedom. He specifically thanked Taiwan for its long-standing substantive support of the annual "Budapest Forum" and emphasized that Taiwan’s exceptional capabilities in smart technology and digital governance serve as a vital reference for the Budapest city government as it advances urban modernization. Concluding the interview, Karácsony explicitly expressed his desire to visit the island, hoping to have the opportunity to travel to Taiwan in the near future to further deepen substantive bilateral interactions.

This development underscores Taiwan’s sustained efforts in international and city diplomacy in recent years, particularly its gradual establishment of partnerships in Europe based on democratic values and technological strength. As Hungary’s core political and economic hub, Budapest is currently led by Mayor Karácsony, a political figure belonging to the opposition camp against Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. Karácsony has long been dedicated to promoting democratic governance, green transformation, and open transparency in the city. Against this local political backdrop, Karácsony’s public affirmation of Taiwan’s democratic achievements and his proactive pursuit of exchanges in the smart technology sector not only demonstrate the flexibility of local-level diplomacy but also open an alternative diplomatic channel for Taiwan in Eastern Europe, distinct from traditional central government-level engagements.

Looking back at the "Budapest Forum" mentioned by Karácsony, the event has recently attracted significant attention in European political and think-tank circles. It primarily focuses on core international issues such as democratic resilience, geopolitical challenges, and sustainable urban development. Taiwan has long supported this forum through diplomatic channels and relevant non-governmental think tanks. This support has not only increased Taiwan’s visibility among European opinion leaders but also successfully positioned Taiwan as a key partner in defending democratic values. In an era where the global democratic camp faces the expansion of authoritarianism and the challenge of disinformation, Taiwan’s continued substantive participation in international forums proves to the world that the nation is not merely an island economy focused on technology and trade, but a steadfast pillar of support for like-minded countries in defending democracy.

Beyond the resonance of democratic values, Karácsony specifically highlighted Taiwan’s "smart technology" as a model for Budapest to emulate, which aligns precisely with Taiwan’s recent policy directions in promoting a "smart nation" and digital transformation. As global urbanization accelerates, issues such as traffic congestion, energy consumption, environmental pollution, and public administrative efficiency have become critical pain points that city administrators must urgently address. Taiwan’s deep foundations in the semiconductor industry, information and communications technology, and Internet of Things (IoT) applications have allowed the nation to accumulate rich practical experience in developing smart cities, e-government, and big data governance. Karácsony’s public praise indicates that European local governments highly value Taiwan’s innovative applications in combining technological strength with public services.

Looking ahead, Karácsony’s expressed willingness to visit Taiwan has injected new possibilities into future city diplomacy and substantive cooperation between the two regions. City diplomacy is often less constrained by complex central diplomatic recognition issues, allowing for a more flexible focus on practical exchanges in trade, technology, culture, and education. If the Budapest mayor successfully visits Taiwan in the future, he is expected to inspect Taiwan’s smart transportation systems, science and technology parks, and digital governance achievements on-site, thereby facilitating concrete cooperation projects in industry-academia research and development or urban management. This would not only help enhance Taiwan’s positive image among the Hungarian public but also write a new chapter in Taiwan’s continued pursuit of pragmatic diplomacy in the European region.

(Source: CNA)