Vietnamese and Hungarian PMs aim to expand cooperation

• Vietnam – Hungary agree to strengthen ties
• NA Chairwoman begins Hungary visit
• Hanoi willing to forge all-faceted ties with Hungary

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (right) and his Hungarian counterpart, Viktor Orbán

Prime Minister (PM) Nguyen Xuan Phuc warmly welcomed the Hungarian PM to Vietnam, expressed his belief that the visit will create an impetus for the traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation between the two countries in the coming time. PM Phuc also affirmed that Vietnam always attaches great importance to consolidating its relationships with traditional friends in Central and Eastern Europe, including Hungary as Vietnam’s key partner in the region.

PM Orbán Viktor expressed delight at his visit to Vietnam, sincerely thanked PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc and the Vietnamese people for their hospitality and sincerity. The Hungarian PM spoke highly of the achievements obtained by the Vietnamese people during the renewal process, as well as the country’s increasing position and role on the international stage. He affirmed that Hungary has always considered Vietnam a traditional friend and a prioritized partner in the region. He also wished to expand multifaceted cooperation with Vietnam.

The two government leaders exchanged information about each country, discussed concrete measures to promote bilateral cooperation, shared their views on regional and international issues of mutual concern.

The two PMs agreed that the economic and trade cooperation between Vietnam and Hungary has seen positive developments, but the outcomes have still been modest in comparison to the two sides’ potentials and desires.

The two PMs agreed to further improve the efficiency of the Joint Commission on Economic Cooperation, boost trade and investment and create favorable conditions for enterprises to connect each other and survey each other’s market, especially in the fields of water resources, environmental protection, pharmaceuticals, animal husbandry, food processing and renewable energy.

PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc highly appreciated Hungary's ODA policy that sees Vietnam as its priority partner. Hungary has provided 535 million Euros of ODA preferential loans, including 440 million Euros under the “Framework Agreement on Financial Cooperation”, signed in January 2017. PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc also applauded the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on the implementation of the Framework Agreement on Financial Cooperation, which will facilitate the two sides' agencies and enterprises in deploying and implementing projects in the future.

On this occasion, PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc expressed his thanks to the Government of Hungary for its preferential loan for the project of Can Tho Cancer Hospital.

The two leaders also spent time discussing and agreeing on concrete measures to promote cooperation in the fields of education and training, culture-tourism, labor, healthcare, agriculture and natural resources, environment, security and defense.

PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc thanked the Hungarian Government for granting some 200 scholarships annually to Vietnamese students to study in the country and suggested that Hungary give priority to scholarships in fields of medicine, pharmaco-chemistry, biotechnology, information technology,  and create favorable conditions for education and training institutions of both nations to set up direct contacts, exchange experts, teachers and students and promote cooperation in training.

The two PMs applauded the close coordination between the two countries at international and inter-regional fora. PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc thanked the Hungarian Government for its commitment to support Vietnam’s candidacy for a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council of 2020-2021 term, and showed support for Hungary's active role in the ASEM framework and cooperation mechanism of Mekong-Danube. The Hungarian PM confirmed Hungary's support for Vietnam in strengthening relations with the EU, including the early signing and formal approval of the Vietnam-EU Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA).

Regarding issues in the East Sea (South China Sea), the two PMs agreed on the need to settle disputes by peaceful means in accordance with international laws.

PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc thanked the Hungarian Government for creating favorable conditions for the Vietnamese community to integrate and settle down their lives in Hungary. Prime Minister Orbán Viktor appreciated the position of the Vietnamese community in Hungary and affirmed that his government would continue to create favorable conditions for the Vietnamese community to play a leading role in developing friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries.

After the talks, the two PMs held a press conference, issued the Vietnam-Hungary Joint Statement and witnessed the signing ceremony of cooperation documents in finance, culture, education and agriculture, industry, labor, information and communication technology, and the twinning agreement between Can Tho and Hungary city of Kávová.