Vitenamese House Speaker held talks in Hungary – update

Vietnam is Hungary’s key partner in South-East Asia, Speaker of Parliament László Kövér said on Monday, after talks with Vuong Dinh Hue, the head of Vietnam’s National Assembly.

While agricultural exports to Vietnam surpass imports, Hungary has “much to do” in developing bilateral economic ties, Kövér said in a joint statement after the talks.

Noting that Hue led a delegation of various experts, Kövér said the visit was “promising” regarding inter-governmental, scientific and educational cooperation.

The heads of parliament discussed the tied-aid programme Vietnam extended to the Hungarian parliament during the coronavirus pandemic.

Kövér said the global economy was “hopefully getting back on track”, including key sectors like tourism, one of the most dynamically developing economic areas.

Hue noted the two countries’ “long historic friendship”, despite the geographical distance. The visit strengthened the strategic cooperation between Hungary and Vietnam, he said.

He said the talks focused on inter-parliamentary and economic cooperation, as well as on opportunities to develop ties in science, research and education. Several university rectors were members of the Vietnamese delegation, in hope of building cooperation with Hungarian universities, he said.

• read also: Orbán cabinet to ease hiring temporary workers from the Far East

The Institute of Hungarian Culture is scheduled to open this year in Vietnam, he added.