Orbán discusses peace and energy cooperation with Qatari PM

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán met Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, the prime minister of Qatar, in his office on Thursday, the PM’s press chief said.

The sides discussed economic and energy cooperation and the prospects of a pro-peace policy, Bertalan Havasi said.

Qatar’s national development strategy for 2024-2030 opens up wide investment opportunities in manufacturing, logistics, IT, finance, health care and education, and Hungary is interested in Hungarian companies taking advantage of the expanding business opportunities, he said.

The two prime ministers also discussed opportunities for boosting cooperation in the energy sector as Qatar is the world’s second-biggest exporter of LNG and third-biggest exporter of natural gas, Havasi said. Orbán thanked his guest for Qatar’s efforts to free Hungarian hostages held by Hamas, he added.

Orbán acknowledged Qatar’s peace efforts in regional conflicts as well as the war in Ukraine. “We are proud to be part of the global pro-peace majority along with Qatar,” Havasi said.

Szijjártó: Hungary, Qatar to boost strategic cooperation

Hungary and Qatar are set to bolster their strategic cooperation, Péter Szijjártó, the minister of foreign affairs and trade, said on Thursday.

Speaking in connection with his Qatari counterpart’s visit to Budapest, Szijjártó noted that he was the first foreign official received by Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani after he was sworn in as Qatar’s prime minister.

“This certainly played an important role in Hungary and Qatar’s ties having been elevated to a strategic level in recent years,” Szijjártó said, according to a ministry statement.

“Hungary and Qatar share the same position concerning the vast majority of the world’s gravest problems,” the minister said, noting that both countries were pro-peace. “We agree that armed conflicts should be settled as soon as possible, and peace should be achieved through negotiations and diplomacy.”

“It’s no different when it comes to the war in Ukraine,” Szijjártó said. “We’re proud to be part of the global pro-peace majority together with Qatar and represent the pro-peace position calling for an urgent ceasefire and peace in Ukraine.”

Meanwhile, he praised the Qatari prime minister’s role in securing the release of three of the Hungarian hostages taken by Hamas.

Szijjártó said Hungary and Qatar were also in agreement on the need to eliminate religious persecution. “As a thousand-year Christian state we have always felt responsible for the world’s Christian communities, especially those who are in trouble or facing persecution,” he said.

He praised Qatar for its role in the fight against terrorism, warning of the “vicious circle” constituted by terrorism and illegal migration.

“So everyone fighting terrorism contributes to reining in migration waves,” the minister said. “We Hungarians have faced this challenge for many years now, and we’re grateful to Qatar for helping reduce the migration pressure on Hungary by fighting terrorism.”

Turning to bilateral economic cooperation, Szijjártó said a comprehensive agricultural cooperation agreement had contributed significantly to a rise in the export of Hungarian produce and food industry products to Qatar.

Cheese exports have exceeded 100 tonnes in 2024, and the export of live poultry and eggs is also up, he said, adding that Hungary and Qatar have agreed to continue their cooperation in agriculture.

On another subject, Szijjártó said Qatar was set to play a key role in Hungary’s energy security, noting that talks are under way between Hungarian and Qatari businesses on bringing Qatari liquefied natural gas into Hungary’s energy mix from 2027.

Meanwhile, Szijjártó said that as the current president of the Council of the European Union, Hungary devotes special attention to cooperation with the Gulf region.

Hungary believes the EU could benefit greatly from establishing the closest possible cooperation with the Gulf states, he said, urging the bloc to sigh a free trade deal with the Gulf Cooperation Council and grant a visa waiver to citizens from GCC countries.

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