More concrete steps are needed to bolster Hungarian-Polish relations, Hungarian Foreign Minister János Martonyi stated in a radio programme on Sunday. There is still plenty of potential in bilateral economic cooperation between the two countries, he added.

Speaking on public radio, Mr Martonyi said one cannot disregard history when talking about Hungarian-Polish friendship. Poland is a large country, but the core of emotional and cultural ties between the two countries can be found in Krakow, and this is why the Hungarian Consulate General has been reopened here, he said. In addition to the symbolic message, the move also has great importance for the economy as well as for trade and tourism, he stressed.

The Hungarian Foreign Minister said that the Consulate General in Krakow has very important duties, since tourism and economic and trade relations must be expanded. Hungarian-Polish economic relations still hold great opportunities; trade statistics show there is still much greater potential in two-way trade, he said. Education and cultural ties should also be strengthened further, he said. Mr Martonyi reopened the Hungarian Consulate General in Krakow, which was closed in 2009 as part of austerity measures, on 14 March.

(Ministry of Foreign Affairs)