Hungarian National Assembly Chairman: Vietnam is the EU's largest and most important trade partner in Southeast Asia

(Chinhphu.vn) - On the afternoon of October 20, at the Government headquarters, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh received Chairman of the Hungarian National Assembly Kover Laszlo, who is on an official visit to Vietnam from October 18 to 22, 2025.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh receives Chairman of the Hungarian National Assembly Kover Laszlo - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh warmly welcomed Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly Kover Laszlo and the Hungarian National Assembly delegation on their official visit to Vietnam, right on the occasion of the two countries celebrating the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations; emphasizing that the visit of the Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly is of great significance in strengthening relations between the two countries' legislative bodies in particular and promoting the Vietnam-Hungary Comprehensive Partnership in general.

The Prime Minister affirmed that Vietnam always attaches importance to and wishes to strengthen relations with traditional friends in the Central and Eastern European region, of which Hungary is one of the top priority partners - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

The Prime Minister affirmed that in implementing the foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification and multilateralization of international relations, Vietnam always attaches importance to and wishes to strengthen relations with traditional friends in the Central and Eastern European region, in which Hungary is one of the top priority partners.

Recalling the good memories of his official visit to Hungary in January 2024, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh expressed his satisfaction with the positive developments in the bilateral relationship in recent times; saying that the President's visit is an important new milestone in consolidating and deepening the bilateral relationship in the coming time.

The two sides assessed economic-trade-investment cooperation as one of the important pillars in bilateral relations, agreeing on the need to promote cooperation in this field commensurate with the trustful political relationship - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh informed the Chairman of the Hungarian National Assembly about Vietnam's recent socio-economic development situation; shared Vietnam's major strategic orientations, goals, solutions, and lessons learned in economic development, growth model innovation, institutional and legal reform, streamlining the apparatus, science and technology development, and building an independent and self-reliant economy.

Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly Kover Laszlo expressed his joy and emotion when visiting Vietnam again after 10 years; thanked the Vietnamese leaders and people for their warm and thoughtful welcome to the delegation; respectfully conveyed the greetings and invitation of President Sulyok Tamas to General Secretary To Lam to visit Hungary soon; expressed his admiration for Vietnam's outstanding and historic achievements after nearly 40 years of Doi Moi; highly appreciated Vietnam's increasingly important role and position in the region and in the international arena; affirmed that Vietnam is always Hungary's leading important partner in Southeast Asia.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh informed the Chairman of the Hungarian National Assembly about Vietnam's recent socio-economic development situation - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

The two sides assessed that economic-trade-investment cooperation is one of the important pillars in bilateral relations, and agreed that it is necessary to promote cooperation in this field commensurate with the trustful political relationship. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh highly appreciated and thanked Hungary for being one of the first EU countries to ratify the Vietnam-EU Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA), and at the same time asked the Hungarian National Assembly to continue supporting the parliaments of the remaining EU member countries to soon ratify the Agreement. Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly Kover Laszlo affirmed that Hungary is always ready and recommends, promoting the remaining EU countries to soon ratify the Agreement, for the benefit of EU countries; affirmed that Vietnam is the largest and most important trade partner of the EU in Southeast Asia.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh proposed a number of measures to strengthen the relationship between the two countries to develop more substantially - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

In an atmosphere of friendship and trust, the two sides discussed a number of major orientations to develop the bilateral relationship more substantially. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh proposed a number of measures to strengthen it, including: (i) Strengthening political trust through continuing to promote delegation exchanges and contacts at all levels, especially at high levels, through all channels of the Party, State, Government, National Assembly and people-to-people exchanges; (ii) Strengthening trade and investment cooperation, soon doubling the current bilateral trade turnover, reaching about 2 billion USD in the coming time and considering this an important pillar in the bilateral relationship; (iii) Strengthening cooperation in the field of development, effectively coordinating the implementation of projects using preferential credit from the Hungarian Government for Vietnam; (iv) Strengthening cooperation in education and training, especially in areas where Hungary has strengths and Vietnam has needs such as nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, high technology, medicine, innovation, etc.; (v) Strengthening cooperation in the environmental field, especially water security - Hungary's strength; (vi) Strengthening labor cooperation, one of the fields with great potential for complementarity; (vii) Strengthening cultural, tourism and people-to-people cooperation, focusing on coordinating the organization of activities to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 2025.

The Chairman of the Hungarian National Assembly affirmed that the Hungarian National Assembly is always ready to coordinate in implementing high-level agreements and support the two countries' governments to promote relations in all fields - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

The Chairman of the Hungarian National Assembly highly agreed with the proposals of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. Regarding parliamentary cooperation, Mr. Kover Laszlo said that all political parties in the Hungarian National Assembly, despite their different political tendencies, agreed to support the consolidation and deepening of relations with Vietnam; affirmed that the Hungarian National Assembly is always ready to coordinate in implementing high-level agreements, supporting the two Governments to promote relations in all fields, especially strengthening economic, trade and investment relations. The Hungarian National Assembly will continue to closely coordinate with the Vietnamese National Assembly in building and perfecting the legal framework for bilateral cooperation, contributing to deepening the Vietnam-Hungary Comprehensive Partnership.

The Chairman of the Hungarian National Assembly highly appreciated Vietnam's increasing role and position in the region and on the international arena; affirmed that Vietnam is always Hungary's leading important partner in Southeast Asia. Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

Discussing regional and international issues of mutual concern, the two sides agreed to continue to closely coordinate and support each other at multilateral forums, supporting the stance of resolving disputes by peaceful means, on the basis of respect for international law, to maintain stability and security in each region. Regarding the East Sea issue, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh asked the Hungarian National Assembly to support the stance of Vietnam and ASEAN, resolving disputes by peaceful means on the basis of compliance with international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982).

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Chairman of the Hungarian National Assembly Kover Laszlo visit a photo exhibition on cooperation between the two countries - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

On this occasion, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh asked the Chairman of the Hungarian National Assembly to convey his regards to Hungarian Prime Minister Orban Viktor./.

Ha Van

Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/chu-tich-quoc-hoi-hungary-viet-nam-la-doi-tac-thuong-mai-lon-nhat-quan-trong-nhat-cua-eu-tai-dong-nam-a-102251020183211248.htm