There is mutual sympathy between Hungary and Kazakhstan, and developing closer relations is in the interests of both countries, declared Hungarian Foreign Minister János Martonyi at the EU-Kazakhstan Forum held in Budapest on 28 January.

The Hungarian Foreign Minister emphasised that healthcare, infrastructure development, agriculture, energy and innovation are the main areas for cooperation between the two countries. He added that Hungary could be a bridge towards the West for Kazakhstan just as Kazakhstan could be a bridge to the East for Hungary.


Mr Martonyi also stressed the importance of cooperation between the European Union and Kazakhstan, noting that the goal of the seminar was to identify those areas where relations could be improved.

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Kazakh Foreign Minister Erlan Idrissov stated that there were a lot of opportunities for cooperation between the European Union and Kazakhstan and it was a major goal for Kazakhstan to intensify its relations with the EU. Europe is one of the most important economic partners for Kazakhstan thanks to the very significant economic progress that Kazakhstan has achieved over the past years, he added.  

The Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan said that Europe must view Kazakhstan as a market economy, because it is about to join the WTO this year. It is also high time that the EU modified its visa policy vis-á-vis Kazakhstan because that would contribute to the further development of relations, Mr. Idrissov stated.

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Erlan Idrissov declared that Kazakhstan regarded Hungary as a reliable partner since Hungary had a growing economy and had its own plans to build a solid future. He welcomed the fact that Hungary was ready to "open towards to the East” and asserted that his country wanted to develop a fruitful cooperation with Hungary.

At the event, Hungarian Minister for National Economy Mihály Varga said that all the necessary conditions were there for the development of relations between Hungary and Kazakhstan because Kazakhstan regarded Hungary as its strategic partner and the two countries were also connected through their historical roots.

(Ministry of Foreign Affairs)