Ties with Africa, „the continent of future”, are crucial for Hungary, Minister of Foreign Affairs János Martonyi told reporters after a two-day EU-Africa summit in Brussels 3 April 2014.

Minister Martonyi said that Hungary’s opening towards African countries had been „spectacular”. Trade ties and cooperation on global issues such as joint efforts to elaborate sustainable development objectives under the auspices of the United Nations have intensified apace, he said.

Education is extremely important for Africa’s countries, an area in which „Hungary has something to offer”, Martonyi stated, adding that over a thousand young Africans were currently studying in Hungary.

Concerning EU–Africa relations, Martonyi highlighted that Europe needs to adjust its trade policies in line with rules of the World Trade Organisation, and sign free trade agreements with African countries. Under those accords, African countries will be granted the benefits of earlier, unilateral agreements, and they will gradually lift their trade restrictions for Europe.

On the sidelines of the summit, Minister Martonyi had bilateral meetings with Hanna Tetteh, his Ghanaian counterpart, and Nkosazana Clarice Dlamini-Zuma, head of the African Union Commission.

(Ministry of Foreign Affairs)