Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban arrived for a visit to China on Monday morning local time.

He said China was a "key power in creating the conditions for peace" in Russia's war in Ukraine.

Earlier Orban took to X, formerly Twitter, and described his visit as "Peace mission 3.0 #Beijing."

According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Orban met President Xi Jinping on Monday "for in-depth communication on issues of mutual interest."

China and Russia's strategic partnership has grown closer since Moscow invaded Ukraine. Beijing presents itself as a neutral party in the war, but it has offered a crucial lifeline to Russia's isolated economy, with trade booming since the conflict began.

Orban's self-proclaimed peace mission

The Hungarian leader's arrival in Beijing follows surprise visits to Russia and Ukraine last week.

Orban, the EU's friendliest leader towards Moscow, held talks with President Vladimir Putin on Friday about the war in Ukraine.

The trip was criticized by both Kyiv and the EU, which said it threatened to undermine the bloc's stance on the conflict.

Orban embarked on his self-proclaimed peace mission after Hungary took over the rotating presidency of the European Union in early July.

dh/jsi (AFP, dpa, Reuters)