House Speaker László Kövér has held talks with leaders in Qatar.
According to MTI, Kövér visited Doha at the invitation of the head of the Shura Council of the State of Qatar. During the two-day visit, Kövér met Deputy Emir Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani, Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, Education Minister Lolwah bint Rashid Al-khater, Industry and Trade Minister Faisal bin Thani bin Faisal al-Thani, as well as the head of the Shura, Hassan bin Abdulla al-Ghanim and Mohd bin Fahad Seif al-Mesallam, the head of the Qatari-European Friendship Group, the statement said.
At the talks, Kövér said that Qatar and Hungary were both "strong, independent countries rooted in a respect for their traditions, that proudly stand up for their values and protect their sovereignty".
Economic and political ties between the governments and parliaments of Qatar and Hungary had developed dynamically over the past decade, and Hungary remained committed to multi-faceted cooperation, he said. He urged cooperation between the two countries' friendship groups and expert committees, and joint action at the Inter-Parliamentary Union.
Meanwhile, Kövér said Hungary remained committed to deepening ties between the European Union and Qatar, and had consistently supported visa exemption and a free trade agreement between the EU and Qatar.
Regarding economic ties, Kövér said there was room for growth in energy, agriculture, water management and sustainability. He said he hoped an investment protection agreement would soon be signed between the countries to foster direct contact between their companies.
"We see especially great cooperation opportunities ... in diversifying Hungary's energy dependencies, as well as in higher education, in improving ties between universities, and in tourism," Kövér said.
Kövér also said that "in the current, conflict-ridden international situation, Hungary appreciates Qatar's strengthening role in balancing and stabilising the Arab and African region." The stability and security of the Gulf and the "Arab region" would be "unimaginable without Qatar's constructive role", he said, and thanked his partners for the country's efforts for a ceasefire in Gaza.