Hungary strengthens ties with Equatorial Guinea during first-ever ministerial visit

Hungary and Equatorial Guinea are launching cooperation in the economy, energy, water management, and education, with relations based on mutual respect, the foreign minister said after meeting counterpart Simeon Oyono Esono Angue in Malabo on Monday.

Hungarian Foreign Minister visits Equatorial Guinea for the first time

Péter Szijjártó told a joint press conference that Christianity was an important meeting point and a stable foundation for cooperation. “It is an honor to be here, the country with the largest ratio of Catholic residents in Africa,” he said.

He said new cooperation was especially important in an “era of dangers” when the war in Ukraine and illegal migration posed security challenges.

“Hungary and Equatorial Guinea both belong to a global pro-peace majority… Although the liberal mainstream press in Europe is trying to suggest otherwise when we look outside Europe or the transatlantic world … it is clear that we pro-peace people are in the majority,” Szijjártó said.

Africa “is on the cusp of a population boom, which warrants a comprehensive development plan,” he said. Failing that, “either Africa will see the largest humanitarian crisis of all time, or the largest migration pressure ever will weigh on Europe,” he said, adding that Hungary wanted to avoid both.

Hungary and Equatorial Guinea are launching cooperation in the economy, energy, water management, and education.

Agreements, cooperation

Szijjártó said the ministers had signed agreements on policy consultations and talks are ongoing on an economic cooperation agreement under which Hungarian companies would help Equatorial Guinea in tackling areas such as water management, modernising water supply systems and developing water security.

Cooperation between the two countries also focuses on Equatorial Guinea’s role as an important producer of natural gas and oil, he said.

“We know that the oil and gas fields are drying out. We in Hungary have developed a technology that would allow production to continue in depleted oil and gas fields sustainably and effectively. Those technologies could contribute to the development of Equatorial Guinea’s economy,” Szijjártó said.

He added that Equatorial Guinea has also shown interest in Hungarian tech in agriculture and the food industry.

Szijjártó and Oyono also agreed that Hungary will offer government grants to students wishing to study in Hungary, especially in health care.

“It is an honour to be here as the first Hungarian foreign minister visiting the country, and we are respectfully inviting you to Budapest to sign the agreements on economic cooperation and grants,” he said.

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