Hungarian President wraps up visit to Vietnam

Hungarian President Áder János left Ho Chi Minh City on November 30, concluding his State visit to Vietnam from November 26-30 at the invitation of his Vietnamese counterpart Truong Tan Sang.

During his stay, the Hungarian leader had talks with President Truong Tan Sang and met with National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung and Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.

The two sides voiced delight at bilateral friendship, and affirmed they always treasure the nations’ amity and multifaceted cooperation.

They agreed on coordination in organising activities such as photo exhibitions, film week, and arts troupe exchanges to celebrate the 65 th founding anniversary of the two countries’ diplomatic relations so as to promote mutual understanding.

The leaders also agreed to enhance collaboration in various spheres like education-training, science-technology, security-defence, resources-environment, health care, and agriculture.

They concurred in fostering affiliation between the law-making bodies and promoting the operational effectiveness of the Inter-governmental Committee to soon realise reached agreements and commitments.

Vietnam asked for Hungary’s support for the early conclusion and signing of a free trade agreement between the former and the European Union.

At the meetings, Hungarian President Áder János and Vietnamese leaders discussed regional and international matters of mutual concern, including the East Sea issue, stressing that all disputes need to be settled peacefully on the basis of internationally recognised principles.

During the stay, President Áder János attended a round table talk on water resources, a conference of Vietnamese and Hungarian universities’ rectors, and a meeting of the Vietnam-Hungary Friendship Association. He also met with Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Nguyen The Thao, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Le Hoang Quan.

Vietnam and Hungary also signed several cooperation documents on agriculture, technology, communication and securities.

Vietnam, Hungary bolster cooperation

Visiting Hungarian President Ader Janos said Vietnam and Hungary have huge potential for cooperation in wastewater treatment, clean water supply and climate change adaptation at a forum on water resources in Hanoi on November 29.

Hungarian President Ader Janos and his wife in HCM City.

At the forum, also attended by Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam, Janos shared his country's experiences dealing with flooding, greenhouse effects and wastewater treatment.

The Deputy PM witnessed the signing of a letter of intent by the Hungarian Embassy in Vietnam to grant arsenic treatment devices to Hai Duong province and a letter of intent to establish cooperation between the Sinh Phu Technology Development Company and Hungary's S-Metalltech 98 company.

On the same day, Janos attended a meeting of the Vietnam–Hungary Friendship Association, where he granted a Hungarian medal to Chairman of the Association Nguyen Dang Vang.

HCM City wishes for closer ties with Hungary: Chairman

Ho Chi Minh City will spare no effort to reinforce ties between Vietnam and Hungary as well as those between the city and Hungarian localities, Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Le Hoang Quan told visiting Hungarian President Ader Janos on November 29.

As the two countries are marking the 65th founding anniversary of their diplomatic ties in early 2015, it is high time for them to intensify friendship and cooperation in mutually concerned areas such as education, investment-trade, and health care, Quan said.

The City and Hungary have also made strides in their collaboration, he noted, elaborating that two-way trade reached 36 million USD so far this year, a year-on-year increase of 30 percent, while the European country now has three projects and three companies locating their offices here.

The Vietnamese southern hub and Hungary’s Budapest capital are accelerating the implementation of their cooperation memorandum of understanding inked in March 2014, the Chairman added.

However, he considered such outcomes modest compared to huge cooperation potential between the two sides. He suggested his city and Hungary research measures to curb climate change’s influence since HCM City is forecast to be under climate change’s heaviest impact in the world.

For his part, President Ader Janos expressed his admiration for the city’s rapid development, adding that his visit to HCM City aims to learn about local wastewater treatment and water supply and business.

He proposed in-depth discussions with the city on climate change to design concrete cooperation activities and further said both sides should also enhance educational partnership, especially in fields that Vietnam has demand for such as information technology and tourism which are Hungary’s strengths.

The same day, the Hungarian leader visited the Thu Duc Water Plant and the Thu Duc B.O.O Water Plant and discussed with their managers on the facilities’ operations, technology and water prices.

Hungarian President tours Tien Giang province

Hungarian President Ader Janos on November 30 visited the Mekong Delta province of Tien Giang , as part of his ongoing visit to Vietnam from November 26.

He was introduced to the province’s potential and advantages, especially in land and labour resources, as well as its socio-economic and cultural achievements.

The provincial leaders briefed the guest on the locality’s progress in agricultural restructuring and production, as well as its efforts in adapting and coping with climate change and natural disasters, especially in vulnerable areas such as the Dong Thap Muoi wetland and the coastal Go Cong area.

The Hungarian President visited fish farms on Tien river and joined an eco-tour in My Tho city where he visited ancient houses and enjoyed “don ca tai tu” music – one of the unique cultural practices of locals in the Mekong Delta region.

President Ader Janos said he was impressed at the daily life and production of locals in Tien Giang, as well as socio-economic attainments of the province.-