The Ho Chi Minh City Union of Friendship Organisations (HUFO) and the city’s Vietnam-Hungary Friendship Association held a gathering on August 20 to celebrate the National Day of Hungary (August 20).

Delegates at a gathering held to celebrate the National Day of Hungary (August 20). (Source: hcmcpv.org.vn)

Chairman of the city’s Vietnam-Hungary Friendship Association Le Minh Triet highlighted the time-honoured friendship and growing cooperation between the two countries, including those between Ho Chi Minh City and Hungary’s Budapest capital.

He spoke of the role of the association over the past 21 years in connecting Vietnamese and Hungarian partners and closely working with the Hungarian Consulate General in HCM City to carry out numerous exchanges and cooperative and friendly activities between the two countries, and HCM City and Budapest in particular.

Hungarian Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City Baloghdi Tibor expressed his pleasure at growing economic ties between the two countries, with 2017 trade revenue reaching USD 354.3 million, up 33.13 per cent year on year. In the first three months of 2018, import-export revenue between the two countries surged nearly 51 per cent from the same period last year to USD 115 million.

He highlighted that economic-finance cooperation is a prioritised pillar in bilateral partnership. The two sides need to expand direct investment, business links and technology transfer in Vietnam in areas of Hungary’s strength such as pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, information technology, cyber security, water resources management and agriculture.

After re-establishment in 2016, the Consulate General in the city has coordinated with Vietnamese partners to successfully organise activities in trade and investment promotion, cultural exchanges, music performances and art exhibitions.

He pledged to continue creating optimal conditions for the growth of Hungary-Vietnam ties, adding that the Consulate General will also continue promoting various cooperative activities with Vietnamese partners in HCM City such as cultural exchange, music shows and cinematographic cooperation.

HCM City and Budapest signed an agreement on increasing friendship and cooperation in 2015. Two years later, HCM City’s District 1 and Budapest’s District 11 set up friendly and cooperative relations. From this year, Hungary provides 200 scholarships for Vietnamese students, doubling that of 2017./.

Translated by Chau Pham