Hungary-Vietnam ties can gain new momentum in the future, says official

As the next president of the Council of the European Union, Hungary has a vested interest in the continued development of the EU’s relations with Vietnam, the ministry of EU affairs said on Saturday.

In a statement, the ministry said Barna Pál Zsigmond, the parliamentary state secretary of EU affairs, paid an official visit to Vietnam, where he outlined the priorities of the coming Hungarian EU presidency. At his talks, Zsigmond said Hungary saw the future of EU member states in connectivity rather than Europe’s isolation. Vietnam and Hungary both have an interest in international connectivity and in the broadest possible cooperation between themselves as well as between EU and ASEAN member states, he said.

Zsigmond said Hungary-Vietnam ties could gain new momentum in the future, arguing that the Southeast Asian country was back on a growth path following the end of the pandemic, opening the door to opportunities for cooperation in every area.

The state secretary said both countries were pro-peace when it came to the war in Ukraine.

Zsigmond’s talks also touched on the investment protection agreement between the EU and Vietnam, and he assured his partners that during its EU presidency, Hungary would urge member states that have yet to ratify the agreement to do so.

At his talks with the deputy minister of public safety, Zsigmond discussed cooperation between the two countries’ police forces and their fight against organised crime.

Joint responses to global challenges

Meanwhile, Zsigmond talked about bilateral academic and university ties with the deputy head of the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam and the rector of Vietnam National University, the ministry said.

At the academy, Zsigmond gave a talk about Hungarian-Vietnamese relations and the possible joint responses to global challenges.

He said the Stipendium Hungaricum programme offers grants to 200 Vietnamese students each year, adding that there are currently 900 Vietnamese students pursuing studies in Hungary.

The ministry said Zsigmond also held talks with the rector of the Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology.

He also discussed the development of business relations with the deputy director of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the head of Business Association of Overseas Vietnamese (BAOOV), leaders of the local representations of Hungarian pharmaceutical companies Gedeon Richter and EGIS, as well as the delegations of the Central and Eastern European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam and EuroCham.

Read also:

• PM Orbán walks hand in hand with Vietnamese prime minister in Budapest – Details and VIDEO HERE
• Hungarian FM: Vietnam offers great opportunities for Hungary’s economy