Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, who arrived in Budapest on the afternoon of January 18 to pay an official visit to Hungary, held talks with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban later on the same day.

Prime Minister Orban underlined the significance of Prime Minister Chinh’s visit in the context of the two countries marking five years of a comprehensive partnership (2018-2023) and looking towards the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties (1950-2025).

The Hungarian Prime Minister affirmed that Vietnam is always a partner of importance in Southeast Asia and believes that the visit will contribute to deepening the two countries’ relations.

The Vietnamese Prime Minister expressed his joy with Hungary’s socio-economic achievements and believed in the country’s further development in the future.

He affirmed that Vietnam treasures and hopes to intensify its cooperation with Hungary; its first comprehensive partner in Central and Eastern Europe.

The Vietnamese leader took the occasion to thank the government and people of Hungary for their valuable assistance to Vietnam in the past struggle for national independence and reunification as well as the ongoing national construction and development, and most recently the provision of hundreds of thousands of doses of vaccine and medical equipment for Vietnam at a time when the Covid-19 pandemic was developing in a complex manner.

The two Prime Ministers discussed major orientations and specific measures to elevate the Vietnam - Hungary comprehensive partnership to new heights.

On political and diplomatic cooperation, the two leaders agreed to increase contacts and delegation exchanges at all levels through Party, State, government, parliament, and people-to-people channels, to strengthen political trust and mutual understanding, creating a foundation to promote and expand bilateral cooperation in all fields.

Regarding economic, trade, and investment cooperation, they agreed that this is an important pillar in bilateral relations, while affirming the need to further promote existing cooperative mechanisms, including the early organization of the 10th meeting of the joint committee on economic cooperation between Vietnam and Hungary. They also encouraged agencies and businesses of both sides to continue to fully and effectively implement the EU - Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EUVFTA).

Prime Minister Chinh suggested that Hungary create favorable conditions for more Vietnamese goods to enter the country, especially agriculture, forestry and fishery products, while affirming that Vietnam stands ready to serve as a gateway for Hungarian commodities to access the Vietnamese and ASEAN markets.

He also thanked Hungary for its support to Vietnam in the negotiation and signing of the EUVFTA and for being the first EU member to ratify the EU - Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EUVIPA)

Prime Minister Orban affirmed that Hungary, as President of the EU for the second half of 2024, will encourage the remaining countries to ratify the agreement.

Prime Minister Chinh proposed that the European Commission (EC) soon remove its “yellow card” warning on Vietnam’s seafood.

The Hungarian Prime Minister said Vietnam is one of Hungary’s most promising markets in the Asia-Pacific region and many Hungarian businesses are interested in expanding investment and business in the country. He welcomed the two sides’ organization of a Vietnam - Hungary business forum during Prime Minister Chinh’s visit, offering opportunities for the direct exchange and connection between enterprises from both countries. He vowed to create favorable conditions for Vietnamese enterprises to invest in Hungary in areas of potential such as information technology and the auto industry.

On education and training, the two Prime Ministers welcomed recent positive outcomes. Prime Minister Chinh thanked the Hungarian Government for its provision of 200 scholarships every year for Vietnamese students. Both sides also welcomed the direct, close, and effective cooperation mechanism between the two countries’ universities, reflected via a series of MoUs signed by Vietnamese and Hungarian training establishments during the visit.

In addition, the two leaders pledged to enhance cooperation in other traditional areas such as culture, sports, and tourism, labor, science and technology, the environment, agriculture, and water management, while striving to expand cooperation in new fields such as the circular economy, innovation, green finance, renewable energy, and digital transformation.

Prime Minister Orban spoke highly of the role of the Vietnamese community in Hungary. Prime Minister Chinh proposed that the Hungarian Government continue to create favorable conditions for Vietnamese expats to deeply integrate into local society, thus contributing to promoting the traditional friendship between the two countries in all fields.

Discussing international and regional issues of shared concern, the two Prime Ministers affirmed to support resolving disputes by peaceful measures, in line with international law and the United Nations Charter, including not using force or threatening to use force, and ensuring peace, stability, and development in the region and the world.

Following the talks, the two Prime Ministers witnessed the signing of cooperative documents between the countries’ ministries, sectors, and agencies, including an agreement between the two governments on cooperation in combating organized transnational crime, an MoU on cooperation between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and a cultural cooperation program between the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Hungarian Ministry of Culture and Innovation for the 2024-2026 period.