Kazakh-Hungarian strategic partnership continues to develop
BUDAPEST, 9 October 2020 – The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Mukhtar Tileuberdi paid an official visit to Hungary.
During the visit, Minister Tileuberdi held talks with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary, Péter Szijjártó. The parties discussed issues of strengthening the interaction of bilateral and multilateral cooperation during the pandemic, and exchanged views on key global and regional issues.
They noted the need to develop integration processes and interaction between regional structures, in particular within the Eurasian Economic Union and the European Union, the Visegrad Four and the Central Asian Five. They also pointed out the commonality of the positions of Nur-Sultan and Budapest on major international issues.
Following the talks, the Ministers signed a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in diplomatic personnel training between the foreign ministries of the two countries.
On the same day, the fourth meeting of the Kazakh-Hungarian Strategic Council was held under the chairmanship of Foreign Minister Mukhtar Tileuberdi and Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance of Hungary Mihály Varga. The Kazakh Foreign Minister emphasized the significance of holding the next meeting in the year of the 5th anniversary of the Strategic Council.
Extensive agenda of the meeting covered the entire spectrum of bilateral cooperation. The parties discussed the prospects for expanding political dialogue, enhancing trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian cooperation. They identified agriculture, military and technical cooperation, education, pharmaceuticals, finance, oil and gas and nuclear industries as priority sectors.
In addition, the parties noted the successful operation of direct flights between Nur-Sultan and Budapest, as well as the activities of the Kazakh-Hungarian Direct Investment Fund ($40 million), which has implemented the following investment projects: “Construction of a high-tech greenhouse complex in the Aktobe region” and “Creation of intensive apple orchards in the Zhambyl region”.
The parties also welcomed active cooperation with the Astana International Financial Center, where Hungarian company Keler Group will provide a full range of post-trade services.
Cultural cooperation is another important element of bilateral relations. Our people are connected by existing historical ties since numerous descendants of the Kipchaks currently live in Hungary, whose Honorary Leader is the First President of Kazakhstan, Leader of the Nation Nursultan Nazarbayev. Budapest and Astana streets were opened in the capitals of the two countries, and a bust of Abai Qunanbayuly was installed on Astana Street in Budapest.
Education is an important area of cooperation within the strategic partnership. The Government of Hungary annually allocates 250 grants for Kazakhstani students to study in Hungarian higher education institutions; resulting in 500 Kazakh students currently studying in Hungary, a significant increase.. At the same time, Hungarian students are studying the Kazakh language at the Szeged University of Science and the Lakitelek People's Institute.
As a result of the event, the parties expressed confidence that the fourth meeting of the Strategic Council will certainly give a new impetus to Kazakh-Hungarian relations. For effective implementation of the set tasks, the intergovernmental commission on economic cooperation, working groups on tourism and nuclear industry, as well as the Business Council will be involved.
During his visit to Hungary, Minister Tileuberdi also visited the European office of the Cooperation Council of Turkic Speaking States in Budapest and got acquainted with its activities.
Overall, the results of the visit showed the wide ranging nature of the Kazakh-Hungarian relations, and demonstrated the new horizons opening up for further mutually beneficial cooperation.