Vietnam, Hungary to further promote trade, politics, and people-to-people exchanges: Leaders

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue (left) had a meeting with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán on Tuesday in Budapest

The top Vietnamese legislator made the remarks as he met Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán on Tuesday in Budapest, expressing his delight at the visit, and the chance to meet close friends of Vietnam.

Hue said the visit would open up new cooperation areas between the two countries in multilateral or regional forums.

The Vietnamese and Hungarian leaders concurred that the two countries had enjoyed a close-knit, time-tested, loyal relationship, a valuable asset that not many countries have had, so all present and future leaderships and peoples of the two countries should ensure its continuing growth.

The two sides said the relations had been developing in the right direction on all fronts in recent times, especially after the visit by Vietnamese Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong to Hungary in 2018.

The Vietnamese top legislator thanked Hungary for having prioritised Official Development Aid (ODA) for Vietnam as well as support in education and training, exemplified by its continued provision of scholarships for Vietnamese students.

He also extended gratitude towards the Hungarian parliament and Government for having actively supported and ratified the Europe-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), and for being the first to ratify the Europe-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement. 

Discussing concrete measures to promote ties, the two leaders agreed to strengthen exchanges via Party-to-Party channels, parliamentary, Government, and people-to-people exchanges.

Hue and Orban also agreed on the commitment to develop two-way trade in a "balanced manner," create favourable conditions for each other's products and services to access the other market, encourage businesses of the two countries to invest in the other country.

At the meeting, the two leaders also shared the stance on handling international disputes and conflicts via peaceful measures in line with international laws.

Chairman Hue requested Hungary to back Vietnam and ASEAN's stances on regional security issues.

VNS