Vietnam and Hungary have issued a joint statement on the occasion of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s official visit to Vietnam from September 24-26.

Vietnam's Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) and Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orbán

The joint statement noted that during the visit, PM Viktor Orbán held talks with his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc and meetings with Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, President Tran Dai Quang and National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan. The PM also attended the Vietnam-Hungary business forum.

In the joint statement, PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc affirmed that Vietnam attaches importance to developing the traditional friendship and multi-faceted cooperation with countries in East Central Europe, including Hungary which is one of the effective partners of Vietnam in the region.

The two Government leaders stressed that economic-financial cooperation is a priority pillar in bilateral ties between the two countries in the immediate future.

The two sides welcomed the signing of an MoU on financial cooperation between Vietnam’s Finance Ministry and Hungary’s Ministry for National Economy, and the establishment of twinning relations between Vietnam’s Can Tho city and Hungary’s Kaposvar city.

They reiterated their resolve to coordinate closely for the effective implementation of projects funded by Hungary’s 400-million EUR preferential credit package, and applauded the official start of the construction of the Can Tho oncology hospital financed by Hungary’s preferential loans.

The two sides agreed to accelerate the building and signing of an MoU on defence cooperation between their defence ministriers.

They also underlined the importance of cooperation in science-technology, information-communication, and culture-sport-tourism, and welcomed the signing of several MoUs on cooperation in those fields.

The joint statement noted the two sides’ agreement to increase consultation and coordination at international and regional organizations and forums, particularly the United Nations, the Asia-Europe Meeting and the Mekong-Danube cooperation mechanism.

Vietnam asks the European Union and Hungary to pay attention to issues related to the East Sea and raise a strong voice for the respect for international law.

Hungary pledges to continue to support and promote the comprehensive relations between Vietnam and the EU, including the early official signing, ratification and full implementation of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement.

Vietnam commits to supporting Hungary in expanding ties with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and ASEAN member countries.

The joint statement also expressed both sides’ satisfaction with the outcomes of PM Viktor Orbán’s visit, hailing the visit’s significance for the development of Vietnam-Hungary ties./.

VNF/VNA