Uzbekistan, Hungary agree on further developing the strategic partnership
On October 3-4, 2022, at the invitation of the Hungarian side, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev paid an official visit to Hungary.
On October 4, an official welcoming ceremony took place for the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev on Lajos Kossuth Square, in front of the Hungarian Parliament building in the city of Budapest.
Foot and horse-mounted guards of honor were lined up on the square in honor of the distinguished guest. A military orchestra performed the national anthems of the two countries.
Presidents Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Katalin Novák greeted the members of the official delegations.
The ceremony concluded with a solemn march of the Guard of honor.
* * *
During an official visit to Hungary, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev has laid a wreath at the memorial column at Heroes’ Square in the city of Budapest.
The President paid tribute to the memory of prominent figures who had contributed to the establishment of the Hungarian statehood. The ceremony took place with the Honor Guard accompanied by a military orchestra.
Heroes’ Square is one of the main squares in Budapest and has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The Millennium Memorial with seven Magyar chieftains on a pedestal stands in the center of the square. It commemorates the discovery of a modern homeland by Hungarians and the establishment of the Hungarian Kingdom.
The Memorial also includes 2 colonnades with sculptures of outstanding people of the Hungarian nation. There is a memorial plaque in front of the memorial in honor of the heroes of Hungary.
* * *
President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev met with the President of Hungary Katalin Novák at the Sándor Palace in Budapest.
The President of Uzbekistan left a record in the Book of Honored Guests, and a joint photographing of the Presidents took place.
The heads of state exchanged views on further building up Uzbekistan – Hungarian multifaceted strategic partnership.
It was emphasized that deep historical ties, common values and similar mentality of the two peoples are a solid foundation for enhancing and strengthening friendly relations. The role of orientalists in the study of the history of relations and the rich cultural heritage of the peoples of the two countries, including Arminius Vámbéry, Ishaq Ibrahim and others, was noted.
The Presidents noted with satisfaction the dynamic development of bilateral cooperation, the deepening of a broad political dialogue, the continuation of mutual support, and the promotion of inter-parliamentary and public relations.
Building up trade-economic and investment cooperation is an important priority. It was stated that in recent years the volume of trade turnover has almost tripled.
Uzbekistan – Hungary Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation and Uzbekistan – Hungary Business Council, whose second meeting was held on October 3 this year in Budapest, play a special role in activating this direction.
The parties agree that the inclusion of Uzbekistan in the GSP+ system of preferences of the European Union opens up new opportunities for a significant increase and diversification of mutual trade.
The cultural-humanitarian sphere has an important role in the development of cooperation between Uzbekistan and Hungary. It was noted that the Hungarian Government decided to increase the quotas allocated annually for students and doctoral students of Uzbekistan through the Hungaricum program to 170 scholarships.
The expediency of holding second Uzbekistan – Hungary Forum of Rectors of higher education institutions was noted.
The Heads of state also exchanged views on the current international and regional issues, discussed the continuation of intensive dialogue and mutual support within multilateral structures.
Following the meeting, the President of Uzbekistan invited the President of Hungary to visit Uzbekistan at any time convenient for her.
* * *
The President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev held a meeting with the heads of leading Hungarian companies and banks in Budapest.
The event was attended by Hungary's Minister of Economic Development Marton Nagy, Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Laszlo Parrag, the head of OTP Bank Sandor Csanyi, as well as the heads of about 20 major companies and corporations, such as Gedeon Richter, Bonafarm, Wizz Air, Raba Holding, Meditop, Master Good, Kite and others.
It should be noted that open meetings with business circles have become an indispensable attribute of the Uzbek President's visits. They facilitate the establishment of direct contacts and advancement of our country's successes in trade and economic sphere, and attract foreign investors to implement mutually beneficial projects.
Hungary is a country with one of the most dynamic economies in Europe, boasting remarkable capacities in agriculture, industry, trade, tourism, finance and information technologies.
Trade and economic cooperation between our countries has been dynamically developing in recent years. Over the last 5 years, trade turnover has tripled. The number of joint ventures and investments is growing.
During the meeting, the sides discussed prospective areas of mutually beneficial cooperation in such industries as pharmaceuticals, agriculture, food processing, electronics and electrical engineering, chemicals, textiles, leather and automotive industry.
It has been noted that wide-ranging reforms are being implemented in Uzbekistan with the purpose of cardinal improvement of all spheres and sectors of the economy, as well as the wellbeing of the population.
The President of Uzbekistan enumerated the principal achievements of Uzbekistan's economic policy in recent years, including liberalization of currency market and repatriation of profits, privatization program of state assets and banks, industrial and infrastructure facilities, tax reform and much more.
«The New Uzbekistan Development Strategy stipulates the continuation of the work to create the most favorable conditions for entrepreneurs and increase the presence of foreign businesses in our country. The main thing is that foreign corporations have believed in our reforms», Shavkat Mirziyoyev has said.
The meeting announced the creation of a joint Fund for financing priority projects, which will be launched in the near future.
It was proposed to set up a separate industrial zone exclusively for Hungarian companies, which would be provided with all the necessary production infrastructure.
The President suggested that future joint projects, development of scientific inventions within their realization, design innovations and technologies of Hungarian partners in the course of their implementation would produce a great synergy effect.
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev addressed to each member of Hungarian business delegation. A detailed exchange of views on plans to implement specific joint projects has been held. A firm willingness to fully support Hungarian businesses in implementing their investment plans has been expressed.
«I invite every businessman to visit our country and personally ascertain that Uzbekistan is the best place to invest today!» - the President has noted.
In turn, the representatives of Hungarian business circles expressed their appreciation of the results of ongoing systemic economic reforms in Uzbekistan, and expressed willingness to enter our country's market and implement promising joint projects.
Another clear evidence of the high mutual interest in cooperation is the Uzbek-Hungarian business forum held the day before, during which the sides signed investment, trade and financial agreements amounting to more than $1 billion.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the sides reached agreement on «Road map» for practical implementation of all projects initiated with an indication of specific deadlines and responsible officials.
The heads of Uzbek ministries and agencies have been tasked to provide all possible assistance to Hungarian partners in carrying out successful business activities in our country.
* * *
At the Carmelite Monastery in Budapest, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and the Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orbán held bilateral talks in a narrow format.
During the conversation, the issues of further expansion and deepening the Uzbek-Hungarian strategic partnership were considered.
The President of Uzbekistan expressed his sincere gratitude to the Hungarian Leader for the warm welcome and cordial hospitality on friendly Hungarian soil.
The President noted with great satisfaction the dynamic development and consistent strengthening of the multifaceted strategic partnership between the two countries. It was emphasized that the agreements following the official visit of the Prime Minister of Hungary to Uzbekistan in March 2021 opened a new page in Uzbek-Hungarian relations and brought bilateral cooperation to a higher level.
The contacts at various levels have intensified, a productive political dialogue and inter-parliamentary cooperation have been established, joint projects in the trade, economic and investment spheres are being implemented, cultural and humanitarian exchanges are increasing.
During the talks, a particular attention was paid to the further expansion of trade and economic cooperation and the implementation of joint investment projects, including through industrial cooperation. In this context, the synergy and similarity of the development strategies of national economies aimed at the diversification and industrialization have been emphasized.
The mutual trade has increased almost three-fold in recent years, and there are all the opportunities and prerequisites for its multiple increases. This is also facilitated by Uzbekistan's obtaining the status of «GSP +» of the European Union.
The parties intend to provide mutual benefits and preferences, organize joint production of finished goods with access to the markets of the CIS countries, East and South Asia, as well as the Middle East.
Promising areas of cooperation are pharmaceuticals, agriculture, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, innovation, digitalization, transport, and scientific research specified.
The Leaders of the two countries also discussed topical international and regional issues. The issues of interaction as part of international structures, including the UN, the OSCE, the Organization of Turkic States and others, were also discussed.
The Prime Minister of Hungary confirmed his participation in the first summit of the Organization of Turkic States, which shall be held in November this year in the city of Samarkand.
* * *
President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban continued delegation-level talks.
Both leaders stated that bringing the Uzbek-Hungarian relations to the level of strategic partnership in 2021 is a truly historic event and meets the realities of the centuries-old friendship of peoples and the modern development of mutually beneficial cooperation.
A particular attention is paid to the further expansion of the political, trade, economic, investment, as well as cultural and humanitarian interaction.
Our President noted that in recent years the volume of mutual trade almost tripled. The parties agreed on a target plan for bringing bilateral trade to $500 million in the nearest future.
Viktor Orban states that Hungary considers Uzbekistan as an important and long-term partner. The rich program of this visit is a clear confirmation of the mutual desire for a comprehensive development of dialogue.
An agreement was reached to give a powerful new impetus to the development of cooperation in the agricultural, transport, pharmaceutical, textile, food, electrical, water-saving and industrial sectors.
For these purposes, the governments were instructed to create a Joint Fund in the near future to finance the priority projects.
Along with this, business forums and exhibitions will be held regularly, reserves will be used to the maximum and all areas of mutually beneficial cooperation will be covered.
The parties noted with satisfaction that the successful outcome of the business forum with the conclusion of investment and trade agreements worth more than $1 billion is a concrete practical result of the productive interaction between the two countries.
An agreement was reached on opening a diplomatic mission of the Republic of Uzbekistan in Budapest in order to promote the practical implementation of the agreements reached.
At the end of the meeting, the Leaders of two countries reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening the bilateral relations of friendship and strategic partnership.
* * *
Bilateral documents were signed following the summit in Budapest.
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Prime Minister Viktor Orban signed a Joint Statement on the Development of a Strategic Partnership between the Republic of Uzbekistan and Hungary.
The document notes the friendly, open and constructive spirit of the past talks, provides for the intensification of comprehensive mutually beneficial cooperation, and marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.
15 documents were signed at the level of governments, ministries and agencies of the two countries, providing for further enhancing the strategic partnership between Uzbekistan and Hungary. The signed documents include:
– Joint program for the development of industrial cooperation for 2023-2024;
– Action Plan for the development of cooperation in science and technology;
– Action Plan to enhance cooperation in agriculture;
– Agreement on cooperation in physical culture and sports;
– Agreement on cooperation in science development.
Memorandums were also signed on cooperation in customs, justice, environmental protection, horticulture and greenhouses, viticulture, investments, as well as on cooperation between the Academy of Public Administration of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the University of Public Service of Hungary, Samarkand region and Hajdú-Bihar district, Information and Analytical Center for International Relations and the Institute for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Tashkent State Agrarian University and the Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
* * *
The President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev completed his two-day official visit to Hungary.
The President of Uzbekistan met with the President of Hungary Katalin Novák. Plans for the implementation of specific investment projects in Uzbekistan were considered with the businesspeople of this country.
Talks were held with Prime Minister Viktor Orban, following which a solid package of documents was signed.
Following the visit, Minister of Economic Development Márton Nagy and other officials saw off the distinguished guest at the Liszt Ferenc International Airport.
Official web-site of the President of Uzbekistan
