Prime Minister Viktor Orbán held bilateral talks with leaders of countries in central Asia and the Western Balkans in Budapest on Saturday and Sunday, with energy supplies, security – with special regard to the war in Ukraine and migration — as well as fighting economic difficulties.
According to MTI, PM Orbán hosted Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev for a working visit in his office, congratulating Mirziyoyev on his victory in last month’s presidential election. The prime minister welcomed that the strategic partnership between Hungary and Uzbekistan was being expanded to more and more areas and that bilateral ties were also expanding, most recently with the establishment of a direct air link between the two countries' capitals and with OTP Bank’s entry onto the Uzbek financial market. At bilateral talks with Rustam Minnikhanov, the head of the Republic of Tatarstan, the two leaders were in agreement that Hungary and Tatarstan were prepared to continue working together based on their shared achievements in sectors where cooperation is possible, such as agriculture. PM Orbán said Hungary and Tatarstan were also aiming to continue their cooperation in the areas of culture, science and higher education, adding that Hungary would continue to welcome students from Tatarstan within the framework of the Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship scheme. PM Orbán met Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, with whom he reviewed political and economic relations between Hungary and Serbia, the situation concerning Western Balkans integration in the European Union, action against illegal migration and joint projects in energy and infrastructure. Talks with President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev focused on subjects linked to the security of Hungary and Europe, as well as energy supplies and combatting economic difficulties.
During talks with the President of Kyrgyzstan Akylbek Japarov, the sides were in agreement that the dynamic political dialogue between their respective countries offered a good foundation and helped further strengthen cooperation. PM Orbán’s negotiations with President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedow concerned consultations underway with Turkmenistan about a comprehensive energy cooperation agreement. According to Orbán’s press office, an important element of the agreement is that Hungary could be one of the target countries for Turkmen gas exports in the future. The prime minister also held talks with Zeljka Cvijanovic, the Serb member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Milorad Dodik, President of the Republika Srpska. Orbán said at the meeting that relations between Hungary and Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as between Hungary and the Republika Srpska were excellent adding that “we make every effort to increase cooperation, as reflected by projects already started.” The three leaders discussed the enhanced measures taken against illegal migration, the strategic importance of the Western Balkans, and its role in securing the stability of Europe.