Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his Hungarian counterpart Viktor Orban have discussed measures to cement the two countries’ cooperation, especially in trade and investment.

The two premiers joined talks in Hanoi on Monday morning, as part of PM Orban’s official visit to Vietnam from September 24 to 26.

Phuc believed that the trip would create an impetus for the enhancement of the traditional and multi-faceted Vietnam-Hungary cooperation.

Vietnam values developing ties with traditional friends in Central and Eastern Europe, including Hungary as a priority partner, he stressed.

The two leaders reached consensus on specific measures to strengthen ties across education and training, culture and tourism, labor, health care, natural resources and the environment, as well as national defense and security. 

They agreed to further improve the efficiency of the Inter-Committee on Economic Cooperation, increase trade and investment by providing favorable conditions for the two countries’ businesses to coordinate in such fields as water resources, environmental protection, pharmaceuticals, animal husbandry, food processing, and renewable energy.

PM Phuc shakes hands with PM Orban in Hanoi on September 25, 2017. Photo Tuoi Tre

Hungary has considered Vietnam an important friend and partner by providing a total preferential loan of EUR535 million (US$634.5 million), of which EUR440 million ($521.8 million) was set within the framework of an agreement on financial cooperation signed in January 2017.   

The European country is helping build an oncology hospital in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho via its preferential loans as well as offering 200 scholarships to Vietnamese students each year.

The Vietnamese premier thanked the Hungarian government for supporting Vietnam’s effort to run for a seat at the United Nations Security Council during the 2020-2021 tenure and welcomed Hungary’s active role in the Asia-Europe Meeting and the Mekong-Danube cooperation mechanism. 

Replying to his host, PM Orban said that his country supports Vietnam in enhancing ties with the European Union, including the early signing and ratification of the European Union – Vietnam Free Trade Agreement.

He promised assistance for the Vietnamese community in Hungary, boosting their role as a bridge for bilateral friendship and collaboration between the two nations.

Following the talks, the heads of both governments witnessed the signing of cooperation agreements in finance, culture, education, agriculture, labor, information technology and communications.

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