Foreign Minister János Martonyi asserted that relations between the EU and ASEAN were developing laudably, and so were relations between Hungary and the ASEAN.

At the international conference on exploring the opportunities for further cooperation between Hungary and the Southeast Asian region, held in Budapest, on October 11-12, the Hungarian Foreign Minister declared that Hungary arrived at a turning point because significant political and economic changes had been taking place globally, and each country had to respond to these challenges.

Minister Martonyi pointed out that Hungarian foreign policy had been expanding through a „Global Opening”, an important element of which was „Eastern Opening”. The importance of Eastern opening was demonstrated by that the General Secretary of ASEAN, Surin Pitsuwan, was invited to give a presentation at the Hungarian Ambassadors’ Annual Conference at the end of August. Minister Martonyi stated that the EU had been conducting free trade talks with several ASEAN member states, and Hungary supported these talks.

More than 120 government officials, businessmen and NGO representatives from Hungary and the ASEAN countries attended the two-day event organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Hungarian Investment and Trade Agency, the Budapest Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Hungarian Institute of International Affairs. There was a business forum held on the second day of the event at the Hungarian Institute of International Affairs.

(MTI,Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Hungary)