Foreign minister: Cooperation with Australia helps increase V4 competitiveness

Cooperation with Australia provides significant advantages for the Visegrád Group in terms of competitiveness, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said on Friday after a ministerial meeting of the V4 and Australia in Budapest.

The Visegrád countries, namely the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia have become an engine of growth in Europe, with the axis of the European economy shifting eastward, he said. This trend is also signalled by the attention Australia is now paying to the region, he added.

The Visegrád Group supports that free trade talks between the European Union and Australia should start as soon as possible. It therefore backs the Bulgarian EU-presidency’s plan to make a decision in late February so that the talks can begin in spring, he added.

The automotive industry and agriculture are the main focus of cooperation with Australia for the Visegrád group, Szijjártó said, adding that R+D+I are further priorities.

Photo: MTI

The meeting was the first on ministerial level between the V4 and Australia, with talks between foreign ministers scheduled for February, Szijjártó said.

Australian minister for trade, tourism and investment Steven Ciobo said his country aims to strengthen ties with Europe and the V4 group in trade, investment and economics. A free trade agreement with the bloc would be instrumental, he said, adding that Australia would also welcome cooperation with the Visegrád group in research and innovation.

Featured image: MTI

Source: MTI