Former Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó has resigned from parliament after accepting a senior international position with Chinese electric vehicle giant BYD.
Szijjártó announced the move on Facebook on Wednesday, saying he had submitted his resignation from his parliamentary mandate after receiving what he described as an “extremely honorable offer” from one of the world’s leading companies.
“BYD is one of the biggest automotive success stories of the past twenty years and is also the world’s leading manufacturer of new energy vehicles,” he wrote.
“From today, I will continue to work as the head of the group’s external relations and the development of new business lines.”
Szijjártó served as Hungary’s minister of foreign affairs and trade from 2014 until April 2026, when Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz party lost power. He was returned to parliament in the subsequent election but has now decided to leave politics entirely.
His appointment comes after years in which he played a central role in strengthening Hungary’s economic relationship with China and attracting major Chinese investment into the country.
During his time in government, Szijjártó helped secure BYD’s expansion into Hungary, including agreements connected to the company’s European operations and plans to increase production and exports within the European market.
BYD has become one of the most prominent Chinese companies investing in Hungary as Budapest sought to position itself as a leading European hub for electric vehicle and battery manufacturing.
In May last year, Szijjártó signed a strategic cooperation agreement with BYD executive vice president Stella Li. The agreement was presented as a major step in the company’s European expansion and in the development of closer economic ties between Hungary and China.
Wang Weizhong, the governor of Guangdong Province, described the agreement as an important development for BYD, Hungary and the wider region.
“The establishment of BYD’s European headquarters is a tangible result of Hungarian-Chinese cooperation under the One Belt, One Road Initiative,” he said. “BYD is fortunate to be able to participate in Hungary’s economic development.”
“The world can witness the boundless possibilities of Chinese-Hungarian cooperation,” he added.
Szijjártó was one of the Orbán government’s most prominent advocates of closer ties with Beijing. Hungary repeatedly broke with more cautious European governments by welcoming Chinese investment in sectors including electric vehicles, batteries, telecommunications and infrastructure.
