President Sólyom welcomed Mr Trong’s visit to Hungary and recalled his impressions of Vietnam’s land and people during his visit to the Southeast Asian nation in May 2008.

He said that he is instructing Hungarian agencies to draw up plans to celebrate the 60 years of diplomatic ties between the two countries in 2010. He expressed the belief that Mr Trong’s visit will help promote cooperation between the two countries and the two legislatures, meeting their people’s expectations.

For his part, Mr Trong affirmed that Vietnam attaches great importance to developing friendship and long-term and multifaceted cooperation with Hungary.

Vietnam is willing to serve as a bridge between Hungary and Southeast Asia and the Asia-Pacific region to peace and common prosperity, said Mr Trong.

He appreciated Hungary’s stance to consider Vietnam one of the strategic partners in its international economic development policy and proposed the European Union member increase official development assistance for Vietnam in the near future.

He thanked the Hungarian Government for creating favourable conditions for Vietnamese nationals to integrate well into the local community.

In the afternoon, Mr Trong and his Hungarian counterpart Katalin Szili delivered speeches at a Vietnam-Hungary business forum with the participation of 100 entrepreneurs from the two countries.

Participants shared the view that bilateral trade remains modest, reaching nearly US$100 million annually. Vietnamese businesses said that Vietnam wants to cooperate with Hungary in such potential areas as human resources training, high technology industries and tourism development.

In her address, Speaker Katalin Szili noted that the two legislatures support their governments’ joint efforts to boost bilateral cooperation, especially in economics. Therefore, she asked the two governments to encourage their businesses to explore and establish long-term partnerships.

In his speech, Mr Trong spoke of Vietnam’s advantages, including socio-political stability, high economic growth and its increasing role and position in the world. He affirmed that the Vietnamese Government creates the best possible conditions for Hungarian investors to operate efficiently in the country.

At a reception for leaders of the Hungary-Vietnam Friendship Association, Mr Trong asked the association to organise practical activities to help young Hungarians better understand Vietnam.

He also met with representatives of the Vietnamese community in Hungary. He briefed them on the National Assembly’s recent discussions of the Citizenship Law and another bill allowing overseas Vietnamese to buy houses in the country. He asked them to unite and make practical contributions to the Vietnamese fatherland. 

Mr Trong also granted an interview to Hungary’s national television, highlighting Vietnam’s achievements during the Doi Moi (Renewal) process, Hanoi’s developments and challenges, as well as prospects for cooperation between the two countries and the two legislatures in the future.