Péter Szijjártó, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, said Hungary and Qatar are set to bolster their strategic cooperation.
Speaking in connection with his Qatari counterpart's visit to Budapest, Minister Szijjártó noted that he was the first foreign official received by Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani after he was sworn in as Qatar's prime minister.
"This certainly played an important role in Hungary and Qatar's ties having been elevated to a strategic level in recent years," Szijjártó said, according to a ministry statement.
"Hungary and Qatar share the same position concerning the vast majority of the world's gravest problems," the minister said, noting that both countries were pro-peace. "We agree that armed conflicts should be settled as soon as possible, and peace should be achieved through negotiations and diplomacy."
"It's no different when it comes to the war in Ukraine," Szijjártó said. "We're proud to be part of the global pro-peace majority together with Qatar and represent the pro-peace position calling for an urgent ceasefire and peace in Ukraine."
Meanwhile, he praised the Qatari prime minister's role in securing the release of three of the Hungarian hostages taken by Hamas.
Minister Szijjártó said Hungary and Qatar were also in agreement on the need to eliminate religious persecution. "As a thousand-year Christian state we have always felt responsible for the world's Christian communities, especially those who are in trouble or facing persecution," he said.
He praised Qatar for its role in the fight against terrorism, warning of the "vicious circle" constituted by terrorism and illegal migration.
"So everyone fighting terrorism contributes to reining in migration waves," the minister said. "We Hungarians have faced this challenge for many years now, and we're grateful to Qatar for helping reduce the migration pressure on Hungary by fighting terrorism."
Turning to bilateral economic cooperation, Szijjártó said a comprehensive agricultural cooperation agreement had contributed significantly to a rise in the export of Hungarian produce and food industry products to Qatar.
Cheese exports have exceeded 100 tonnes in 2024, and the export of live poultry and eggs is also up, he said, adding that Hungary and Qatar have agreed to continue their cooperation in agriculture.
On another subject, Szijjártó said Qatar was set to play a key role in Hungary's energy security, noting that talks are underway between Hungarian and Qatari businesses on bringing Qatari liquefied natural gas into Hungary's energy mix from 2027.
Meanwhile, Szijjártó said that as the current president of the Council of the European Union, Hungary devotes special attention to cooperation with the Gulf region.
Hungary believes the EU could benefit greatly from establishing the closest possible cooperation with the Gulf states, he said, urging the bloc to sign a free trade deal with the Gulf Cooperation Council and grant a visa waiver to citizens from GCC countries.