Hungary and Slovakia are planning to build a high voltage electric line connecting the nations under an agreement signed in Bratislava.
According to MTI, the new line will contribute to energy security in central Europe, and will promote the international electricity trade.
During his visit to Bratislava, Hungary’s foreign minister, Péter Szijjártó met with his Slovak counterpart, Miroslav Lajcak, to discuss objectives for Hungary’s upcoming Visegrad Four presidency.
Minister Szijjártó said it was in Hungary’s “national and economic interest” to maintain ties of a strategic alliance with Slovakia. He added that “tight and reliable” relations between the two countries’ governments could positively impact Slovakia’s Hungarian minority.
Minister Szijjártó also had talks with leaders of Slovakia’s ethnic Hungarian party, MKP, and said that the “shared success stories can turn the most delicate ties into an alliance”.
At MKP’s headquarters, Minister Szijjártó met MKP leader József Menyhárt. “In the future, we will continue efforts to create a foundation of confidence through shared success stories of Hungary and Slovakia to enable us to resolve issues which may sometimes be very sensitive," the minister said.
The Hungarian government will also continue developing infrastructural ties with Slovakia, such as building a new bridge on the river Danube between Komárom and Komarno (Révkomárom) and a motorway in the Rajka area.
Another 11 crossing stations will be added to the existing 34 between Hungary and Slovakia, the minister added. Similar to Hungary-assisted programs in northern Serbia and western Ukraine, the government will launch a scheme in southern Slovakia in cooperation with MKP and with “significant contributions from Hungary’s central budget to promote the local economy," Szijjártó said.