MFA Deputy State Secretary for Global Affairs Szabolcs Takács conducted talks in Bangkok on March 19.

Together with Vijavat Isarabadhki, the Deputy State Secretary of the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs, they reviewed the status of Hungarian-Thai relations and discussed further steps aimed at deepening cooperation. Political contacts have become regular during the past two years, while trade relations have also developed dynamically. The parties also agreed that the forthcoming visit of Thai Deputy Prime Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul to Budapest in June and the autumn meeting of the bilateral economic cooperation commission will lend a new impetus to Hungarian-Thai relations. There was agreement that there are still unexploited areas in other areas of bilateral relations, hence the mutual intent of parties to develop science and technology, as well as education and cultural relations. The parties wish to strengthen law enforcement cooperation; the Hungarian party handed over a draft text and proposed the signing of an extradition treaty between the two countries. The leading  diplomats of the two countries exchanged opinions on international political and economic events mutually relevant to both countries. In this respect, special attention was given to the democratic transition in Mianmar and the parties agreed that they would both contribute to catering for the capacity development needs of Mianmar.

Szabolcs Takács also briefed Deputy Prime Minister Plodprasop Surawasdi and Apichart Anukularmphai, the Chairman of the Program Committee of the Asia-Pacific Water Summit to be organized in Chiang Mai in May 2013, on the preparations for the World Water Summit to be organized in Budapest in October. He expressed that the Hungarian organizers were expecting a high-level and active participation from Thailand and handed over the letter of invitation to the event. The Thai partners also reiterated that they are looking forward to high-level attendance and the presentations of Hungarian hydrology companies and institutions at the Chiang Mai Summit.

Szabolcs Takács also presented the objectives of the eastward opening policy of the Hungarian Government to Suranand Vejjajiva, Secretary General to the Prime Minister, and among the results highlighted positive development of Hungarian-Thai relations, as well as the ties between Hungary and ASEAN countries. They also agreed that the long standing relations - the Embassy of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy opened 100 years ago in Bangkok with a Hungarian diplomat leading it and October this year will be the 40th anniversary of the re-establishment of Hungarian-Thai diplomatic relations - and the intensive cooperation of present times make a meeting of the heads of government of the two countries highly timely. They mutually reiterated the invitations extended during the visit of Minister János Martonyi last April and agreed that they shall seek opportunities to organise the meeting of the two Prime Ministers at their earliest possible convenience.

(Ministry of Foreign Affairs)