Hungary considers Vietnam the most important partner in Southeast Asia and will work to strengthen the comprehensive partnership with the country, Hungarian President Janos Ader has said.

Hungarian President Janos Ader (Photo: EPA)

The Hungarian President made the statement during his meeting with General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong in Budapest on September 10.

Ader affirmed Trong’s visit is an important event, opening up a new stage in bilateral relations in all areas.

He expressed his pleasure with achievements in bilateral relations, especially Hungary's preferential credit for, and water and environment projects in Vietnam.

He underlined the importance of protecting water resources and the water environment, suggesting enhanced cooperation in training, including those working in the water sector.

The President said Hungary is willing to provide Vietnam with water retention technology for drought days, while wishing Vietnam to create favourable conditions for the development of Hungarian pharmaceuticals in the Vietnamese market.

General Secretary Trong highly valued the positive development of the relations between the two countries in recent times, stressing that Vietnam always attaches importance to strengthening and developing friendship and cooperation with traditional friends in Central and Eastern Europe, including Hungary – a leading important partner.

He informed President Ader of the important results of his talks with Prime Minister Viktor Orban and main orientations for promoting traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation between Vietnam and Hungary.

The two leaders were pleased with the two countries' decision to upgrade their relations to the level of "comprehensive partnership", saying that it marks a historic milestone, creating a new framework to expand and deepen bilateral cooperation.

They agreed to work together to effectively implement measures to promote cooperation in politics - diplomacy, security - defense, economy - trade, education - training, health, environment, culture, sports, and tourism.

Stressing the importance of economic cooperation in bilateral relations, General Secretary Trong briefed President Ader on Hungary’s projects in Vietnam, including water projects. They agreed to direct the implementation of the agreements signed by the two governments, particularly those of socio-economic importance.

The General Secretary welcomed the Hungarian President’s proposals on personnel training, as well as cooperation in agriculture and medicines.

Secretary General Nguyen Phu Trong invited Hungarian President Janos Ader to visit Vietnam at his convenience. President Ader accepted the invitation with pleasure.

Hungarian PM wishes to boost multi-faceted cooperation with Vietnam

Hungarian PM Viktor Orban (L) and General Secretary of CPV Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong 

Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orban has expressed his wish to reinforce all-round ties with Vietnam via the Party and Government channels in such fields as economy, tourism, and education-training.

He made the wish while meeting the media together with visiting General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong following their talks and witnessing the signing of cooperation documents in Budapest on September 10. 

Orban said both sides have agreed to further lift their ties to the comprehensive partnership level, as well as hailing Vietnam as an especially successful country with an annual economic growth of 6 percent. He forecast that in the next decade, Vietnam will become one of the world’s fastest growing countries.

As Hungary holds a particular strength in science-technology, the country wants to engage in Vietnam’s development via an official development assistance (ODA) programme, he said, adding that Hungary always encourages its firms to invest in Vietnam. 

The host said the early enforcement of the Vietnam-EU Free Trade Agreement will bring great benefits to all parties concerned. 

Towards the 70th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties, Orban conveyed his hope that the Hungary Culture Centre will be inaugurated in Vietnam by 2020. 

The two leaders said they discussed each country’s situation as well as reviewed and outlined major orientations towards further developing bilateral ties. 

In order to lift two-way trade in the near future, they called for attention to improving investment policies and environment, so as to create favourable conditions for the two countries’ businesses to meet and seek cooperation opportunities. 

The Hungarian side vowed to offer support for Vietnamese goods to have greater presence in the country while Vietnam welcomes Hungarian businesses to invest in the fields of Vietnam’s demands and Hungary’s strengths. 

In education-training, both sides will work closely together to effectively use scholarships that the Hungarian government has provided for Vietnam, thus meeting Vietnam’s demand for human resources in the long term. 

With regards to joint work at multilateral forums, they agreed that each global issue needs to be settled via dialogue and peaceful means, on the basis of respecting independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations and their right to self-determination, international law, and the United Nations Charter. 

The Vietnamese side expressed support for Hungary in expanding coordination with ASEAN member states, and joining cooperation mechanisms beneficial to the European nation. Hungary backed Vietnam in strengthening the comprehensive partnership with the European Union. 

The two sides agreed to foster consultation and coordination at international organisations and forums to which they are members, towards stepping up effective and practical dialogues and multilateral cooperation. 

The Vietnamese Party chief affirmed that amidst complicated developments in the region and the world, Vietnam has always and will continue to treasure its traditional friendship and comprehensive partnership with Hungary, considering the European nation a top partner in central Eastern Europe. 

He believed that realising the comprehensive partnership and reached agreements will lift bilateral ties to a greater height for the long-term benefits of the two countries’ people. 

In the morning the same day, the Vietnamese leader and his entourage laid a wreath at a square dedicated to national heroes in the capital city. 

Vietnam, Hungary agree to lift relations to comprehensive partnership

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong and Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orban agreed to lift bilateral ties to the level of comprehensive partnership during their talks in Budapest on September 10. 

The CPV chief said Vietnam considers Hungary a leading partner in central Eastern Europe and congratulated Hungary on scoring a number of important socio-economic achievements, catapulting the country into the position of one of the leading economies in the European Union with political stability and social unity. 

Orban, for his part, said Hungary considers Vietnam its most important partner in Southeast Asia, affirming that the visit will create a new milestone and driving force for the bilateral traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation. 

Both sides agreed to maintain regular visits and exchanges between high-ranking leaders, strengthen political consultations and strategic dialogues via Party, Government, and National Assembly channels, as well as between ministries, agencies, and localities. 

They expressed their determination to foster effective collaboration in diverse areas, especially in economy, trade, investment, national defence, education-training, science-technology, environment, healthcare, culture, sports, and tourism, as well as share experiences in maintaining and upholding traditional cultural identities during the process of development. 

Host and guest pledged to strengthen consultation on regional and global issues of shared concern and effective cooperation at multilateral organisations and forums, particularly at the United Nations, the Asia-Europe Meeting and the Mekong-Danube Cooperation Initiative. 

The General Secretary affirmed that Vietnam supports Hungary in extending coordination with ASEAN member states and stands ready to serve as a bridge for the country to expand economic ties with the bloc. 

Expressing commitment to promoting the Vietnam-EU comprehensive partnership, the Hungarian PM vowed to push forward the early signing, ratification, and full implementation of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement, contributing to reinforcing EU market connectivity, including that between Hungary, Vietnam, and the ASEAN. 

As there remains room for bilateral partnership, the two sides asserted to increase activities of the Vietnam-Hungary Inter-Committee on Economic Cooperation; create favourable conditions for the two countries’ business communities to meet and seek new opportunities; as well as expand cooperation in healthcare, water management, information technology, pharmaceuticals, food safety, environment protection, and renewable energy. 

The Vietnamese leader hailed Hungary for considering Vietnam a priority partner in its official development assistance policy. He suggested working closely together in fields that suit Hungary’s capacity and meet Vietnam’s demand. 

He thanked the Hungarian government for committing to continuing the supply of the 200 scholarships it awards to Vietnamese students each year. 

The two sides welcomed the signing of several cooperation documents in national defence-security, justice, healthcare, education-training, and the organisation of the second Hungary-Vietnam conference of universities rectors in Budapest. 

They promised to expand ties across culture, sports, and tourism in order to raise mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples, as well as to step up the plans marking the 70th anniversary of diplomatic ties in 2020.

The host said the Hungarian government will continue to provide all possible support for Vietnamese nationals in Hungary so they may lead stable lives and serve as a bridge connecting the two nations. 

Following the talks, the two leaders held a press conference, issued a joint statement on the establishment of the Vietnam-Hungary comprehensive partnership, and witnessed the signing of several important cooperation documents.

VNA