Minister of Foreign Affairs János Martonyi held bilateral discussions with his Vietnamese counterpart, Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh on the margins of the state visit to Hungary by H.E. Truong Tan Sang, the President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam September 16, 2013.

During the meeting, Minister Martonyi praised the warm, friendly relations of the two countries. He added that it is our aim to fill this co-operation with substance. The eight agreements signed during the presidential visit also serve this objective.

Mr Pham Binh Minh thanked Hungary for being among the first to ratify the Partnership and Co-operation Agreement between the European Union and Vietnam.

Referring to the on-going free trade negotiations between the EU and Vietnam, Minister Martonyi highlighted that under the present circumstances in the world economy, many countries aim at extending their network of free trade agreements. Hungary supports the early conclusion of the negotiations between the EU and Vietnam. The ministers agreed that the two countries could serve as gateways for each other, providing access to the markets of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the European Union, respectively.

The two sides reaffirmed their mutual support for each other’s candidates in the United Nations and other international organisations. Mr Pham Binh Minh praised the ASEM Sustainable Development Dialogue that had been initiated by Hungary based on the Danube Region Strategy that was adopted during Hungary’s EU Presidency. The Dialogue – through its recent seminars in Budapest in 2012 and in Vietnam in 2013 – aims at fostering co-operation between the Danube and Mekong regions.

The parties discussed the most important current international issues, including the South China Sea and Syria. Minister Martonyi informed his counterpart about the EU’s common position on the situation in Syria.

Truong Tan Sang, the President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam visited Budapest between 15-18 September at the invitation of President János Áder. The Vietnamese President also met with Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, László Kövér, the Speaker of the National Assembly and István Tarlós, the Mayor of Budapest.

(Ministry of Foreign Affairs)