Subscribe to our social channels to get the latest news about Hungary!
PHOTOS: Malaysia celebrated National Day, diplomatic ties with Hungary and 2025 ASEAN chairmanship in Budapest
Change language:
An Official Diplomatic Reception on the occasion of the 67th National Day / 61st Malaysia Day and in commemoration of the 55th Anniversary of the Establishment of Malaysia-Hungary Diplomatic Relations, as well as in promotion of Malaysia’s 2025 ASEAN Chairmanship was held at the Budapest Marriott Hotel on the 12 September 2024.
About 200 officials & guests from the Hungarian central and local government agencies, ambassadors and members of the Diplomatic Corps, NGOs and think-tanks, business people and members of the media attended the reception.
The Ambassador of Malaysia to Hungary, Francisco Munis, in his address underscored Malaysia’s achievement and journey as a progressive nation, the Malaysian-Hungarian long friendship and active relations, as well as Malaysia’s readiness as the 2025 Chair of ASEAN.
The Ambassador highlighted that the journey of Malaysia and Malaysians has indeed been colourful. Malaysia progressed as a nation, weathering the different eras of challenges and development, a journey made possible with Malaysia’s national unity that stems from the progressive and harmonious people of Malaysia.
Malaysia and Hungary: cordial and warm relations
Internationally, Malaysia’s foreign policy which is founded on the values of peace, humanity, justice, and equality with the thrust to contribute meaningfully towards a just and equitable community of nations, has allowed Malaysia to be a friendly country that is able to play role and contribute towards international peace, stability and prosperity. In the context of Malaysia-Hungary relations, the Ambassador stated that since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1969, Malaysia and Hungary have nurtured cordial and warm relations, sharing common values and mutual respect, and demonstrating an enriched and mature friendship.
The long decades of constant engagements by the leaders and peoples of both countries’, were effectively translated into formal collaborations, in numerous mutually beneficial areas of common interest, through the signing of strategic bilateral Agreements and MOUs in the areas of trade and investment, education, agriculture, visa waiver, fiscal and taxation, information, air services and scientific and technological.
In the last few years, regular exchange of visits undertaken at all levels by the public and private sectors, have seen increasing awareness and interest on the potentials of the Malaysian-Hungarian relations, deepened understanding and opening up prospects for collaboration in areas of untapped competence, such as collaboration in tourism, cultural, environmental, security, healthcare, renewable energy and digital economy.
55th Year of Diplomatic Relations with Hungary
The year 2024 denotes the 55th Year of Diplomatic Relations. As both countries commemorate the 55 years of milestone, the outlook of both bilateral and multilateral collaborations is moving robustly. The Ambassador looks toward elevating further the Malaysian-Hungarian relations with more engagements, cooperations and exchanges, particularly in enhancing further the volume of total trade, which stands at 660 million Euro in 2023.
Looking forward, the Ambassador is positive that with the recent establishment of the Joint Intergovernmental Committee for Economic and Industrial Cooperation (JIEC) between Malaysia and Hungary, trade and investment exchanges can be further elevated in the years to come.
The 90 days visa free agreement between both countries will continue to complement the effort and strengthen further bilateral foundation, especially in promoting and encouraging people to people connection and interactions in businesses and tourism, effectuating the prospect for future mutually beneficial collaboration and cooperation. Malaysia highly values its friendship with Hungary and remains committed to complementing and maximizing the potentials of the Malaysian-Hungarian relations.
2025 ASEAN Chairmanship
On Malaysia’s 2025 ASEAN Chairmanship, the Ambassador reiterated that Malaysia as one of the founding members of ASEAN, had advocated and constructively played significant role in the development of peaceful ASEAN. Under its Chairmanship, Malaysia will continue to foster and emphasize the vision for a united ASEAN that stands as a formidable regional bloc and promote the importance of ASEAN Centrality and ASEAN as a Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality.
Stressing on Malaysia’s readiness as the Chair of ASEAN 2025, the Ambassador also echoed that Malaysia welcomes and is supportive of Hungary’s intention to be part of the ASEAN Treaty of Amity and Cooperation and hopes that Hungary’s accession to the treaty could soon be concluded. It is also of Malaysia’s wishes for a successful Hungarian Presidency of the European Union. Hungary’s full support for the principle of ASEAN Centrality and efforts to promote ASEAN-EU relations during its EU Presidency will help bridge the strengthening of the ASEAN-EU relations, as well as the Malaysian-EU relations.
Hungarian government official’s address
Representing the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary, Mr. Ádám Stifter, the Deputy State Secretary for the Development of Eastern Relations in his address, highlighted that the 55th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations between Hungary and Malaysia, since its establishment in 1969, is testament to the flourishing of bilateral cooperation, transcending geographic distance, based on mutual respect and friendship and have never been stronger than they are today. Both countries cooperated closely in international organizations and share the belief in a rules-based international order and multilateral solutions to address global challenges.
