On the occasion of the official visit to Vietnam of the Chairman of the Hungarian National Assembly: Continuing to deepen the Vietnam - Hungary Comprehensive Partnership

At the invitation of National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man, early this morning, October 18, Hungarian National Assembly Chairman Kover Laszlo arrived in Ho Chi Minh City, beginning an official visit to Vietnam. The visit demonstrates Hungary's emphasis on promoting bilateral relations, opening a new chapter in parliamentary cooperation, contributing to deepening and making the Vietnam-Hungary Comprehensive Partnership more effective.

Báo Đại biểu Nhân dân•18/10/2025

The potential for cooperation is still enormous.

Over 75 years ago, on February 3, 1950, Vietnam and Hungary established diplomatic relations. Hungary was one of the first 10 countries in the world to recognize and establish diplomatic relations with Vietnam. Since then, despite the geographical distance, the two countries have always maintained a close bond. Hungary has always stood alongside and supported Vietnam in its struggle for independence and national reunification in the past, and in its current process of national construction and development.

National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man met with Hungarian President Sulyok Tamas at the National Assembly building on the afternoon of May 28, 2025. Photo: Lam Hien

During the war years, Hungary provided Vietnam with sincere assistance, both materially and spiritually. Many Vietnamese engineers and experts were trained in Hungary, acquiring valuable knowledge that contributed to the development of Vietnam. In its current national development efforts, Hungary always considers Vietnam a priority partner in the Asia- Pacific and Southeast Asian regions. In September 2018, the two countries established a Comprehensive Partnership, making Hungary Vietnam's first Comprehensive Partner in Central and Eastern Europe.

Based on traditional friendship, mutual trust, and understanding, relations between the two countries have developed well in recent years. Political and diplomatic relations have been increasingly strengthened, as evidenced by the frequent exchange of delegations at all levels, especially at the high level, through all channels: Party, Government, Parliament, and local authorities. On the Vietnamese side, the General Secretary, President, Speaker of the National Assembly, and Prime Minister have all visited Hungary. On the Hungarian side, since 2014, the President, Speaker of the Parliament, and Prime Minister of Hungary have all visited Vietnam. In 2017, the Communist Party of Vietnam signed a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation with the FIDESZ Party, establishing official relations between the two ruling parties. This has created a solid foundation for promoting relations between the two countries.

The two sides regularly coordinate and support each other in international organizations. In 2025, the two countries will celebrate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations and will jointly organize many practical activities to commemorate this important event. Cultural weeks and culinary exchanges will also be organized in both countries to enhance understanding and spread traditional cultural values to the people of both nations.

Economically, Hungary is one of Vietnam's major trading partners in Central and Eastern Europe. Vietnam is also one of Hungary's most promising markets in Southeast Asia. Bilateral trade turnover has been steadily increasing annually, reaching over US$900 million in 2024, a 7.3% increase compared to 2023; and US$758.3 million in the first nine months of 2025. Hungary ranks 52nd out of 149 countries and territories investing directly in Vietnam with 21 projects and a total registered capital of US$50.66 million (as of May 2025).

Hungary is the Central and Eastern European country that provides the most concessional credit to Vietnam, with 440 million Euros for several projects related to e-population management and clean water supply. It was also one of the first countries in the European Union to ratify the Vietnam-EU Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA).

Vietnam and Hungary have also promoted effective cooperation in many other fields. Among these, educational cooperation is a prominent highlight. Hungary has trained over 4,000 Vietnamese professionals with university and postgraduate degrees; and is currently the Central and Eastern European country that provides the most scholarships to Vietnam, with 200 scholarships per year.

During the most challenging phase of the Covid-19 pandemic, Hungary provided Vietnam with approximately 300,000 doses of vaccine and various medical supplies. Businesses in both countries have begun to facilitate the employment of Vietnamese workers in Hungary. Currently, there are around 2,000 Vietnamese workers in Hungary. The two sides are discussing a draft cooperation agreement in this area.

The Vietnamese community in Hungary currently numbers around 6,000 people, who are well-integrated into the local society and are positively regarded by the Hungarian authorities.

The potential for cooperation between the two countries is still very large, especially in the fields of politics and diplomacy, trade, investment, development cooperation, culture, education, and health.

On the parliamentary channel, over the years, friendly relations and cooperation between the parliaments of the two countries have developed well on both bilateral and multilateral levels. In bilateral cooperation, the two parliaments maintain exchanges of delegations at all levels and carry out bilateral contacts through flexible forms, including in-person, online, and high-level contacts.

During their meeting on May 28, 2025, the President of Hungary and the Chairman of the National Assembly of Vietnam, Tran Thanh Manh, both highly appreciated the dynamic development of cooperation between the two National Assemblies in recent times.

In particular, the two Parliaments signed their first Cooperation Agreement in 2017, and renewed it in 2022, creating a stable legal framework and cooperation mechanism to help both sides promote the exchange of legislative experience, oversight, and decision-making on important national issues; at the same time, strengthening mutual understanding and trust between the legislative bodies of the two countries.

Cooperation between the parliaments of the two countries plays a bridging role, making an important contribution to promoting the implementation of strategic cooperation goals between the two governments, creating a solid political and legal foundation for other areas of cooperation such as economics, trade, investment, education and training, science and technology, and culture.

The parliaments of both countries actively exchange high-level delegations and specialized committees; and promote coordination in organizing workshops and seminars to share experiences on legislation, public policy planning, institutional improvement, building a rule of law state, and sustainable development.

The two sides also implemented a mechanism for regular information exchange on legislative activities and on bilateral and multilateral international treaties to which Vietnam and Hungary are both signatories, in order to coordinate effective monitoring of the implementation of international commitments and ensure transparency and compatibility within the legal framework of each country.

Within multilateral frameworks, the parliaments of both countries have maintained contact, consulted with each other, and cooperated closely and effectively in multilateral parliamentary forums in which both sides participate, contributing many initiatives to regional and international inter-parliamentary organizations such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Council.

Opening a new chapter in relations between the parliaments of the two countries.

The visit of the Speaker of the Hungarian Parliament takes place in the year that Vietnam and Hungary celebrate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations (1950-2025) and just 5 months after the visit of Hungarian President Sulyok Tamas (May 2025). This demonstrates Hungary's respect for Vietnam's role, position, and prestige in the region and internationally; and also reflects the desire and determination of both countries to promote the Vietnam-Hungary Comprehensive Partnership to become increasingly deeper and more effective.

During his meeting with the Hungarian President, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man expressed his warm welcome and anticipation for the visit of Speaker Kover Laszlo; he believed the visit would open a new chapter in relations between the two countries' parliaments; and affirmed that the Vietnamese National Assembly would work alongside the Government and relevant agencies to implement the agreements reached between the two countries, contributing to bringing practical benefits to the people of both nations.

Vice Chairman of the National Assembly, Lieutenant General Tran Quang Phuong, met with Speaker of the Hungarian Parliament Kover Laszlo during his visit to Hungary in 2024.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Hungary Bui Le Thai stated that the two visits to Vietnam by both the President and the Speaker of the Hungarian Parliament in the same year (2025) demonstrate Hungary's special regard for its relationship with Vietnam, and reflect the high level of political trust between the two countries' top leaders. This is the clearest evidence that the traditional friendship and comprehensive partnership between Vietnam and Hungary are entering a new, more substantive and effective phase of development.

According to Hungarian Ambassador to Vietnam Tibor Baloghdi, the visit of Hungarian Parliament Speaker Kover Laszlo to Vietnam demonstrates the shared commitment of both countries to further elevate bilateral relations through parliamentary diplomacy and enhanced coordination between relevant agencies. He also stated that the Hungarian Parliament always values promoting relations with the Vietnamese National Assembly – a solid pillar in the political relationship between the two countries.

The visit of Speaker of Parliament Kover Laszlo is an opportunity for the two countries and their respective parliaments to continue implementing the achievements made between the two high-level leaders, including further deepening trade, investment, and cooperation in areas such as politics and diplomacy, security and defense, parliaments, education, and people-to-people exchanges; promoting cooperation in new areas such as renewable energy, labor, information and communication technology, digital transformation, green transformation, and cooperation in international forums.

In particular, the visit is of great significance in promoting and strengthening cooperation through parliamentary diplomacy; boosting the sharing of experiences between the two legislative bodies in lawmaking and policy and law enforcement oversight; enhancing exchanges of high-level delegations; and continuing close coordination at regional and global multilateral parliamentary forums. Through this, the Vietnam-Hungary relationship will continue to develop strongly, substantively, and effectively for the practical benefit of the people of both countries, contributing to peace, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.

Source: https://daibieunhandan.vn/nhan-chuyen-tham-chinh-thuc-viet-nam-cua-chu-tich-quoc-hoi-hungary-dua-quan-he-doi-tac-toan-dien-viet-nam-hungary-tiep-tuc-di-vao-chieu-sau-10390866.html