PHOTOS: Malaysia celebrated National Day, diplomatic ties with Hungary and 2025 ASEAN chairmanship in Budapest

An Official Diplomatic Reception on the occasion of the 67^th National Day / 61^st Malaysia Day and in commemoration of the 55^th Anniversary of the Establishment of Malaysia-Hungary Diplomatic Relations, as well as in promotion of Malaysia’s 2025 ASEAN Chairmanship was held at the Budapest Marriott Hotel on the 12 September 2024.

About 200 officials & guests from the Hungarian central and local government agencies, ambassadors and members of the Diplomatic Corps, NGOs and think-tanks, business people and members of the media attended the reception.

The Ambassador of Malaysia to Hungary, Francisco Munis, in his address underscored Malaysia’s achievement and journey as a progressive nation, the Malaysian-Hungarian long friendship and active relations, as well as Malaysia’s readiness as the 2025 Chair of ASEAN.

The Ambassador highlighted that the journey of Malaysia and Malaysians has indeed been colourful. Malaysia progressed as a nation, weathering the different eras of challenges and development, a journey made possible with Malaysia’s national unity that stems from the progressive and harmonious people of Malaysia.

Photo: Embassy of Malaysia, Budapest

Malaysia and Hungary: cordial and warm relations

Internationally, Malaysia’s foreign policy which is founded on the values of peace, humanity, justice, and equality with the thrust to contribute meaningfully towards a just and equitable community of nations, has allowed Malaysia to be a friendly country that is able to play role and contribute towards international peace, stability and prosperity. In the context of Malaysia-Hungary relations, the Ambassador stated that since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1969, Malaysia and Hungary have nurtured cordial and warm relations, sharing common values and mutual respect, and demonstrating an enriched and mature friendship.

Photo: Embassy of Malaysia, Budapest

The long decades of constant engagements by the leaders and peoples of both countries’, were effectively translated into formal collaborations, in numerous mutually beneficial areas of common interest, through the signing of strategic bilateral Agreements and MOUs in the areas of trade and investment, education, agriculture, visa waiver, fiscal and taxation, information, air services and scientific and technological.

In the last few years, regular exchange of visits undertaken at all levels by the public and private sectors, have seen increasing awareness and interest on the potentials of the Malaysian-Hungarian relations, deepened understanding and opening up prospects for collaboration in areas of untapped competence, such as collaboration in tourism, cultural, environmental, security, healthcare, renewable energy and digital economy.

55^th Year of Diplomatic Relations with Hungary

The year 2024 denotes the 55^th Year of Diplomatic Relations. As both countries commemorate the 55 years of milestone, the outlook of both bilateral and multilateral collaborations is moving robustly. The Ambassador looks toward elevating further the Malaysian-Hungarian relations with more engagements, cooperations and exchanges, particularly in enhancing further the volume of total trade, which stands at 660 million Euro in 2023.

Looking forward, the Ambassador is positive that with the recent establishment of the Joint Intergovernmental Committee for Economic and Industrial Cooperation (JIEC) between Malaysia and Hungary, trade and investment exchanges can be further elevated in the years to come.

The 90 days visa free agreement between both countries will continue to complement the effort and strengthen further bilateral foundation, especially in promoting and encouraging people to people connection and interactions in businesses and tourism, effectuating the prospect for future mutually beneficial collaboration and cooperation. Malaysia highly values its friendship with Hungary and remains committed to complementing and maximizing the potentials of the Malaysian-Hungarian relations.

2025 ASEAN Chairmanship

On Malaysia’s 2025 ASEAN Chairmanship, the Ambassador reiterated that Malaysia as one of the founding members of ASEAN, had advocated and constructively played significant role in the development of peaceful ASEAN. Under its Chairmanship, Malaysia will continue to foster and emphasize the vision for a united ASEAN that stands as a formidable regional bloc and promote the importance of ASEAN Centrality and ASEAN as a Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality.

Stressing on Malaysia’s readiness as the Chair of ASEAN 2025, the Ambassador also echoed that Malaysia welcomes and is supportive of Hungary’s intention to be part of the ASEAN Treaty of Amity and Cooperation and hopes that Hungary’s accession to the treaty could soon be concluded. It is also of Malaysia’s wishes for a successful Hungarian Presidency of the European Union. Hungary’s full support for the principle of ASEAN Centrality and efforts to promote ASEAN-EU relations during its EU Presidency will help bridge the strengthening of the ASEAN-EU relations, as well as the Malaysian-EU relations.

Hungarian government official’s address

Representing the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary, Mr. Ádám Stifter, the Deputy State Secretary for the Development of Eastern Relations in his address, highlighted that the 55^th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations between Hungary and Malaysia, since its establishment in 1969, is testament to the flourishing of bilateral cooperation, transcending geographic distance, based on mutual respect and friendship and have never been stronger than they are today. Both countries cooperated closely in international organizations and share the belief in a rules-based international order and multilateral solutions to address global challenges.

Photo: Embassy of Malaysia, Budapest

The Deputy State Secretary added that Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó has just visited Malaysia in March 2024 and Hungary is already looking forward to Minister Szijjártó’s upcoming visit to Kuala Lumpur to co-chair the Inaugural Session of the Intergovernmental Committee for Economic and Industrial Cooperation between Hungary and Malaysia. We are delighted to observe that high-level dialogue between our countries is frequent, demonstrating the mutual commitment of both parties toward the further enhancement of our multifaceted relations. We believe that amid today’s global challenges it is of utmost importance to establish mutually beneficial political and economic cooperation with countries that we share similar values with. Hungary’s aim is to play the role of a bridge between Eastern and Western economies. On this note, we consider Malaysia as a key partner in Southeast Asia, and as such, a cornerstone in the Hungarian strategy of the Eastern Opening.

As a founding member of ASEAN, Malaysia has demonstrated its ambitions in both the regional and global spheres, and made a significant contribution toward the preservation of stability and security in Southeast Asia and the wider region. We commend Malaysia’s commitment to global stability.

New heights in economic cooperation

The economic cooperation between Hungary and Malaysia has reached new heights in the last years. Malaysia is our second largest trading partner among the ASEAN countries; thus, we strive to create more opportunities for cooperation in various areas. We are pleased to note that the bilateral trade between Hungary and Malaysia has been constantly growing in recent years. Last year, the volume of bilateral trade exceeded 828 million US dollars.

Photo: Embassy of Malaysia, Budapest

We are looking forward to the Inaugural Session of the Intergovernmental Committee for Economic and Industrial Cooperation between Hungary and Malaysia. Hungary considers this event to be a key forum for the development of our economic and trade relations, providing an excellent institutional framework to discuss areas of cooperation based on mutual interest. I am confident that the session will give new impetus to our bilateral economic cooperation across a wide range of new sectors.

Education is an important segment of our bilateral relations, since cooperation in the field of higher education and skills developments is a long-term investment that contributes to strengthening people-to-people relations, as well as our scientific, economic and political ties in the forthcoming decades.

Lots of scholarships

Hungary has been taking initiatives to deepen cooperation in the areas of skills development, education, science and technology. I am proud to note that the Hungarian-Malaysian academic relations have been evolving significantly, with scholarship programmes such as the Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship programme and inter-institutional cooperation playing a particularly important role. We offer 40 scholarships for Malaysian students annually to study in Hungary within the framework of the Stipendium Hungaricum Programme. The main goal of this programme is to support and strengthen international cooperation, to enhance diversity in higher education and to promote its competitiveness. Since its inception in 2016, the popularity of the programme is increasing in popularity in Malaysia, this year 122 students applied.

Deputy State Secretary Stifter concluded in his address that the past 55 years of bilateral relations serve as an inspiration for the future. Hungary remains committed to further developing cooperation with Malaysia. We are convinced that in today’s rapidly changing world, we need reliable and stable partners, a partner with whom we could cooperate on the basis of mutual respect and shared interests, for the equal benefit of our nations.

Earlier on 31 August 2024, the Ambassador of Malaysia also hosted a flag raising ceremony and a reception to commemorate the 67^th National Day and 61^st Malaysia Day, at the Embassy of Malaysia in Budapest Chancery’s compound for the 200 strong Malaysian community in Hungary.

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