Vietnam will be one of the leading countries in Asia.

The documents signed in the presence of the two Prime Ministers include: Agreement between the Government of Vietnam and the Government of Hungary on cooperation in preventing and combating transnational organized crime; Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary; Cultural cooperation program between the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vietnam and the Ministry of Culture and Creativity of Hungary for the period 2024-2026.

Sharing with the press, the two Prime Ministers said that the talks were very successful, sincere, substantive and effective, on the basis of the two countries' nearly 75-year-old fine tradition of relations. In the spirit of friendship, trust and mutual understanding, the two sides agreed on the orientation and main measures to promote cooperation between the two countries, as well as discussed regional and international issues of mutual concern.

The two Prime Ministers witnessed the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary.

The two sides agreed that the traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation between Vietnam and Hungary are developing positively in all fields, especially since the two countries upgraded their relations to Comprehensive Partnership in 2018 during the official visit to Hungary by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.

The two Prime Ministers agreed that there is still much room for bilateral cooperation to develop more strongly and effectively, commensurate with the potential, needs and desires of both sides.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said that to understand the significance and importance of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s visit, one must understand the changing context of the world. Among them, the rise of the Asian region with its position raised to a new height requires Hungary to respond appropriately.

The Hungarian Prime Minister commented that Vietnam has won all the wars and that makes us respect it very much… Vietnam is developing remarkably and it is easy to predict that it will be one of the leading countries in Asia.

The Hungarian Prime Minister assessed that the current developments in the world are both risks and opportunities for Hungary - a country belonging to the West but coming from the East, understanding Eastern values, and respecting Eastern values.

He said he was honored to welcome Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh to Hungary with the hope and belief that Vietnam would join the group of successful countries, and that the two sides would succeed in promoting bilateral cooperation. He emphasized that the two countries have opportunities for successful cooperation because they have many similarities.

The Hungarian Prime Minister highly appreciated Vietnam's participation in the Free Trade Agreement with the EU (EVFTA) and said that as the rotating EU President for the second half of 2024, Hungary will urge the remaining countries to ratify the Vietnam-EU Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA).

For his part, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh thanked the Hungarian side for the warm and respectful welcome given to the delegation. "Although it was winter, when we came to lay flowers at Heroes' Square, the sky was bright and sunny, signaling even better things in the relationship between the two countries," the Prime Minister warmly shared with his Hungarian counterpart and the delegates.

In response to the Hungarian Prime Minister's sharing on war and peace, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh reiterated that after World War II, Vietnam was perhaps the country that suffered the most pain and loss due to prolonged wars, "war, war, then more war, siege, embargo". Therefore, Vietnam understands the value of peace, supports peace, loves peace and does not want war anywhere on this earth.

The Prime Minister emphasized, "Whatever we can do to bring peace, we will do our best." He mentioned specific events such as: Vietnam sending people to join the United Nations peacekeeping force, participating in rescue and relief after natural disasters. Vietnam was also the location of the meeting between the US President and the North Korean leader in 2019.

The Prime Minister said that Vietnam persistently and consistently pursues an independent, self-reliant, diversified and multilateral foreign policy; is a friend, a reliable partner and a responsible member of the international community, striving for peace, stability, cooperation and development; with the "bamboo diplomacy" school, Vietnam has "firm roots, a strong trunk and flexible branches".

In overall foreign relations, Vietnam attaches importance to relations with traditional friends, including Hungary, Vietnam's first comprehensive partner in Central Eastern Europe.

The Prime Minister congratulated and expressed his impression of the Hungarian people's achievements in defending and building the country; wished and believed that the Hungarian people would continue to build a strong and prosperous Hungary, with increasingly happy and prosperous people, contributing to strengthening and consolidating the relationship between the two countries to become increasingly better, more effective and more trusting.

On this occasion, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh sincerely thanked the valuable assistance of the Government and people of Hungary in the past struggle for national independence and reunification as well as in the current construction and development of Vietnam.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.

Regarding the results of the talks, the Prime Minister said that the two sides mentioned all areas, with the desire to deepen and make the bilateral relationship more effective.

In terms of politics and diplomacy, the two sides agreed to continue to increase contacts and exchanges of delegations at all levels, especially high-level ones, as a foundation to promote and expand bilateral cooperation in all fields.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh invited Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán to soon visit Vietnam and is ready to welcome other senior Hungarian leaders to visit Vietnam in the near future.

The two sides identified economic, investment and trade cooperation as important pillars in the bilateral relationship; determined to increase bilateral trade turnover and encourage deeper, broader and stronger investment. The two sides agreed to strengthen security and defense cooperation, especially in the fields of training, education and cyber security. The two sides will also further and more specifically promote cooperation in education, training, labor, vocational training, culture and tourism, which are highlights in the bilateral relationship.

The two Prime Ministers witnessed the signing of the Agreement between the Government of Vietnam and the Government of Hungary on cooperation in preventing and combating transnational organized crime.

On this occasion, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh sincerely thanked the Government and people of Hungary for creating favorable conditions for the Vietnamese community in Hungary to live and integrate into the local society, serving as a bridge for the friendly relations between the two countries; and requested that Hungary soon recognize the Vietnamese community as an ethnic minority, with legal equality like the Hungarian people.

The two sides also agreed to strengthen coordination and support between the two countries at multilateral mechanisms, exchange, help and act together, bring more peace, cooperation and development, bring happiness and prosperity to the people of each country, leave no one behind, find individual interests in common interests; in which, focus on contributing to solving regional and global challenges, such as war and peace, food security, cyber security, energy security, etc.

Regarding the East Sea, the Prime Minister asked Hungary to support ASEAN's central stance on resolving disputes by peaceful means, in accordance with international law, especially the 1982 UNCLOS; ensuring security, safety, and freedom of aviation and navigation; supporting the full and effective implementation of the DOC and substantive and effective negotiations on the COC between ASEAN and China.

Vu Khuyen (VOV)

Source